No, GE has always held an outsize share of the US market, despite mediocre performance, long before Pickens placed his order.  He's really just an aged wildcatter, and he's not as new to the industry as he made out.  Our team first met with him in 1999, when he expressed interest in offshore investment as well as standard onshore.  But he could only see then current economics, thus missing the gravy train completely.

In Texas style, he can kiss my, umh, horse.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

I don't believe that Patent has been invalidated, but GE lost the last round when the ITC ruled that Mitsubishi was not in violation of the patent. Hopefully, Enercon will someday have the right to its prior art.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin