Unfortunately, yeah, there are a couple patents on it.
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-P...y=PN%2F4593658
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-P...y=PN%2F5022357
I thought it looked kind of desmodromic, too. But it's also like an opposed engine in some ways, Junker Jumo or Napier Deltic.