If people had understood how patents would be granted when most of today's ideas were invented, and had taken out patents, the industry would be at a complete standstill today.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Patent rules can stifle innovation if applied too broadly to old ideas.
- In plain terms
- If old ideas were patented strictly, progress would have stopped.
- What can you take from it?
- Patent laws should balance protection with open innovation.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Should old ideas be free for everyone?
- How do patents affect your work?
Another view
Patents can also incentivize companies to invest in research.
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