The competition looked identical. So how did Lego pull it off?
Reaction video: https://www.patreon.com/posts/77887760/
More info and sources at bottom.
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Try 3d printing a model!
https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/kiddicraft-self-locking-building-bricks
He mentions that the replica isn't exact — that's why I shied away from really strong specific claims on my model's performance vs. LEGO. But I think you can totally see the difference and get a feel for Kiddicraft bricks.
My favorite book by Sarah Herman. It gets into a bunch of modern LEGO stuff I didn't read, but the early chronology was helpful. (affiliate link)
https://amzn.to/3RiFbPM
Overview of LEGO patent scandals and stuff like that. I didn't get into the Kiddicraft lawsuit — seemed like a bit of a nothingburger to me, based on the size of the reward. But I'm not a lawyer, so read up for yourself if you disagree.
https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/02/business/worldbusiness/building-a-legal-case-block-by-block.html
Brick by Brick - book covers the same ground, gets into business-book-land, but sometimes that's fine.
https://amzn.to/3Y2yu6r
There are obviously millions of LEGO websites filled with arcana, but this one on LEGO evolution was great:
https://www.inverso.pt/legos/Textos/bricks/2X4brick_vs02.htm
Definitive info on Kiddicraft: https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Self-Locking_Building_Bricks_(Kiddicraft)