3 things:
First, Disgusting and shameful are things you probably should not say right now, at least until you don’t know the contents of the patent.
Either you wait for the patent to be official, request a copy and if you find indications of foul play you start a legal action or you just use the plugin without thinking about it too much.
In any case UE4’s eula is pretty strict about requirements, so I’m sure Epic and Neoglyphic have already judged the patent request as not harmful (since it’s already on the marketplace).
Second, It doesn’t seem to me as an attack on artistic techniques. Like anyone in the world, I can take any idea, invent a new process over it and patent the process (which some friend of mine actually did).
Are you fearful you will not be able to use the same technique on other games or engines? Do you think you’ll owe neoglyphic money over it?
I’m sure the patent office has pretty competent people around, and can easily spot any foul play before giving out any rights if the patent is about the multishell algorithm.
Most probably it’s on the usage process and the flow maps. And maybe some parts of the shaders. I could be wrong though.
If not they will probably start asking money from everyone in the future, but it doesn’t seem to me that they would have it easy: the patent argument is very difficult to defend with that much information about the technique already on the internet (not counting released games).
Third, posting stuff like this without any proof of foul play is gonna hurt neoglyphic in sales and pr management.
So it’s not really wise to stir up problems without any proof about your claims.
Their silence can be assumed in any way you think of, as it’s your right, but if you start to be explicit about it by writing it out you can be liable for your words.
Are you prepared for reparations if it actually turns out they are totally in the right?
Seems like a DonQuixote-sque argument to me. Nothing is patented right now (is it still pending right?), so you have nothing to fear. They also did not write any patent pending filing number to identify it, so it could be very well marketing stuff.
If you wanna be sure you can always ready yourself to deny their application under US law:
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1134.html
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/mpep-1900.html
https://www.ipo.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Challengingcompetitorspatentapps.pdf
These are the most sensible steps to take if you really think you are in the right. If your argument is solid i’m sure you’ll find a lot of support in the community, since noone in his right mind wants to shell out $ in rights to use fake fur
I just made a search for patents and found nothing. Means it’s not on neoglyphic entertainment inc. but on a single person (which i bet it’s the owner of the company).
Company details in the california registry and who.is records are also a little sketchy, but that’s probably because of a skilled accountant/lawyer.
Sorry for the long post, It’s not that i’m dissing your point (it’s the other way around actually), but the line between right and wrong blurs considerably if you use language the hard way.
Better be sure and safe than sorry