Continuing on with the BBC vs 385 argument. When a manufacturer releases something, under their name, that design is generally "owned" by them and many in fact, be owned by them, if they purchase the patent rights.
Like I said, the 1958 slant block (MEL/348) is up for grab's and they used different valve arrangements. But, I don't think the canted valve engine is. GM, came out with it first.
How many of you would give GM a pass, if they came out with a inline valve engine, that had the push rods running through the intake?
Yes, I am familiar with the huge, 4 cylinder, 1912 Peugeot, it ran at Indy and I would say they weren't the first to use it. All kinds of manufacturers have used it and still do, to this day. No other design has bettered it, for all out HP.
Push rods have been around a long time, too and there are many push rod designs. It's how they are package, that makes them unique to the manufacture, such as the nail head Buick, Chrysler hemi and many more. Again, if Ford would have came out with a nail head engine, after the Buick, would it be considered "original" in it's design?
You have to use a little common since, guy's.