[lukevanoort]

Even if teams can't use the designs "word for word" (or, I guess, dimension for dimension), I would think a design database would still be an extremely useful thing. Consider the FIRST Robotics Canada mechanism galleries; they only have pictures, not descriptions of designs, flaws, strengths, performance, etc. Yet, the galleries are very useful for helping spark other ideas (I know a significant portion of our 2007 robot was inspired by those pictures, but you would never be able to tell that is was or which pictures did the inspiring unless someone told you) or for just straight out solutions to thorny problems. Similarly, a database of design that are explained along with good pictures of CAD models (Maybe actual models with Autodesk's DWF viewer)/actual implementations would be exceedingly useful for sparking ideas or checking up on ideas you already had (if it has been done before, what worked, what didn't).