Freedom Motors has made significant engine enhancements in the last decade, most of which has been disclosed over the years through their newsletters, brochures, shareholder meetings and press interviews.
It makes sense that they would patent those technologies once they go into production to protect their IP. But it doesn't make much sense to do it before production starts, because the costs of just preparing and filing patents are high (much higher than they used to be), and the clock starts counting toward expiration. FM could again end up where Moller is now, with patents expiring on designs they have yet to bring to market. There are no patents assigned to Freedom Motors, because that business entity was created after Moller's last set of engine patents.
If the JV comes through, as we all hope it will, FM and MI should have the funding to apply for more patents. But really, it only makes sense to do that once they gear up for production.