I didn't see any information on it, but it would make me wonder: Did this mean they got started because they stole someone else's idea, and then get to continue after patents were reintroduced?

Yeah, read an article on it a few years ago, pointing out the hypocrisy of it.

Not 100% sure the chocolate maker was Nestle, though the time frame fits. It could have been some other one, most likely Swiss or Dutch.