Well, oddly enough, the patents were not overlooked by them. Realize the system they are operating in is one based on extreme greed and as much back-stabbing as they can get away with (think Drow [D&D ref]). Thus they have developed highly regimented methodologies of defining their "turf", If they don't protect their little fiefdom they lose their cut of the cash grab as someone else will step in and take it. They are not as united as they appear. If they were a truly united hive-mind working towards the domination and destruction of the world, they would not dare to leave any of those tracks. They are a loose coalition of greedy fuck-wits with a superiority complex held together by every nasty methodology known to man which doesn't make for a good or competent team, nor indeed one where people trust each other.

Their success depends on our collective negligence, without it they fail. It is their lack of trust in each other that ultimately dooms them as it compels documentation and record-keeping. Ever wonder why WWII Germany had such extensive record keeping? How much did they really trust each other? CYA as a way of operation screws your operation, unless you win. "They never thought they would lose" applies to so much more than the election.