"I had an idea once for a software system for the hearing impaired. One of the reviewers used the term brilliant ... yet I was turned down ... 2 years later I saw my idea peddled by a huge corporation all over"

From my understanding of patents - proof of prior disclosure or publication of the idea invalidates the ability to make the patent stick .... os if it can be proved that the person who filed the patent 'took' someone else's idea, that it mate - no patent able to be granted ... :-)