>Swiss company develops a product
>uses a quick release connector that is already well known in a different industry and therefore doesn't feel the need to patent it
>exhibits said product with its connector in a public trade fair
>an American company's engineer visits said fair, takes pictures and uses the same connection design in their own product
>The American company patents said design
>years later the American company threatens the Swiss company and its customers with legal action for violating their patent
Why is the American legal system like this? Why do American companies act like this?

To me this is really bizarre, in Finland patents are for protecting new inventions, not for stealing already existing inventions from others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjS3TNBgi_o