[ICOM] Preamp question

[John Geiger]

On Icom radios, there is a button labeled "preamp" which turns the preamp on and off. This seems pretty logical, whereas on Kenwood radios you have to turn on the AIP (advanced intercept point) to turn off the preamp, and on Yaesu's it is the IPO (intercept point optimizer).  This seems less logical.  Is this some sort of patent deal where Kenwood and Yaesu can't call it the preamp, much like when Icom had to quit having passband tuning for awhile?  Although I do think the Kenwood TS2000 calls it the preamp.

73s John W5TD