Pop, it is an acknowledgement of its existence so the "new" invention brings something "else" than the prior art or already existing invention. You are implying that every reference that Neom's patents make is a "workaround" every patent cited? That is just insane. Of course it is not to "honor", is just a way of saying: I acknowledge the existence of this invention and I differentiate from it in XX way. If it did not bring anything new to the table USPTO would not grant it, it does not mean "workaround". vero