Monopoly
Monopoly disclosure of crystalline osmium
Osmium is a precious metal and is traded internationally. It occurs in platinum mines associated with platinum. Osmium is often offered there as a so-called compound, for example as osmium tetroxide. Osmium is metallurgically separated from other metals and is only pure enough to be used after several processing steps. The pure form of the osmium is not poured into ingots, as is usual with other pre-cious metals, but bottled. At this stage it is referred to as so-called osmium sponge. Osmium sponge is the raw form of osmium, which is also used for crystallization. The crystallization process is the process of rearranging atoms in the atomic structure to produce a new crystal structure. With the change of the crystal structure the chemical and physical properties also change.
This monopoly disclosure relates solely to crystalline osmium.
The process of crystallization is not generally known in the scientific community and is not available to other companies. Crystalline osmium is therefore marketed exclusively by the German "Osmium Institut zur Inverkehrbringung und Zertifizierung von Osmium GmbH". Osmium in its crystalline form is only available to the German Osmium-Institute (mentioned above) from a single source in Switzerland. The complex process of crystallizing osmium is currently mastered only by the supplier in Switzerland.
The complex, dangerous and cost-intensive process is not protected by patent. In order to obtain a process patent, each process must be explained and illustrated in detail. The disclosure in a patent would create a blueprint of the process and thus the possibility of imitation. Even if the procedural patent constitutes protection, costly patent protection proceedings would have to be carried out in cases of infringement. Accordingly, the patenting of the process has currently been waived.
The German “Osmium-Institut zur Inverkehrbring und Zertifizierung von Osmium GmbH” has concluded an exclusive agreement with the supplier in Switzerland without any time limitations. The purpose of the agreement is a regulated introduction into the market via the German Osmium-Institute, which was exclusively commissioned by the Swiss company with the introduction into the market. The employees of the institute have the obligation to act according to strict scientific principles and to provide each piece of osmium with a certificate of authenticity.
In addition, the Osmium-Institute Germany maintains a database in which high-resolution scans of the osmium pieces in circulation can be searched internationally. The purpose of the database is to compare the crystal structure of a real piece of osmium with its scans from certification. Every owner of osmium has the right to retrieve data about his or her osmium from this database at any time if he or she can prove ownership of the osmium. Proof is provided by submitting or entering the Osmium Identification Code (OIC) which is supplied with each piece of Osmium. The Osmium Identification Code is an eight-digit letter and number code.
The German Osmium-Institute’s sole marketing of osmium results in a monopoly linked to the monopoly for crystallization, i.e. the process of modifying the crystal structure of osmium.
Pricing, which takes place in Switzerland, is also linked to the monopoly. Osmium is currently not traded through a trading system. The price is not represented by a stock exchange. However, the supply of raw osmium and the demand for crystalline osmium have a significant influence on the price. The price is established and published each day taking into account the following essential aspects:
Supply of raw osmium, supply of crystalline osmium, offcuts for re-distillation, option contracts for raw osmium, current stock level of raw osmium, number of crystallization ovens, electricity price, personnel costs, laboratory safety costs, build-up of reserves, certification and packaging costs, cutting prices for crystalline osmium, demand for crystalline osmium, current sales of crystalline osmium and several minor weighted factors. The most important aspect of daily pricing is the harvest rate. The harvest rate is the amount of osmium that can be used after growing the crystals and does not have to be returned to the process. The resulting waste of unusable crystals must be re-distilled several times and recrystallized with great technical and financial effort.
Osmium institutes in other countries of the world have the task to introduce osmium to the local market and to certify its authenticity.