The answers to all the patent problems in HBO's 'Silicon Valley'

(Warning: This story contains some spoilers about the hit HBO show "Silicon Valley.") The last few weeks of the hit HBO TV show "Silicon Valley" have been uncertain, with the main characters of the fictional startup Pied Piper dealing with another company that has stolen its intellectual property. The characters seem to have resigned themselves to the fact that this company has part of their idea, but I started to wonder – could patent law have protected this fictional startup from others stealing…