I would say MAM's/FAT are direct copies, rather than someone putting a mod in an existing machine as scat states, it would take alot of financial input to get the project up and running with no guarantee of it working out, the MAM's were made in the 90's when it was probably more worth while to fund a project like that. I just dont think copyright really stands up these days, who has money to take people to court, unless you are Roland or one of the biggie's? and beside's that who wants the hassle...............
People rip each others idea's off all the time, but also collaborate and that is how new things are found, and i have certainly seen you help alot of people Gordon on this and other forums your knowledge goes far and wide and the help you give to people is second to none. That is my idea of circuit bending/mod's to collaborate and help i just havn't seen scat help anyone apart from himself financially, all this copyright stuff just drag's it to a corporate level and certainly isn't why i'm into music or why i come on this forum.