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I like picking beer company as a fun way to introduce a general audience to the notion of open source and segue into a broader econ discussion. I think a better

I like picking beer company as a fun way to introduce a general audience to the notion of open source and segue into a broader econ discussion. I think a better example though is Tesla freeing up use of their patents for free. Yes there's a cynical reason decipherable (more EVs -> more market) but the way they've done it is pretty open, there's nothing to stop a clever company from competing with them better for being able to use the patented tech. Not having to deal with the lawyers' billables and tying up corporate leaders in legal meetings might be the biggest benefit for them.

mbenjaminsmith 11y ago
> there's nothing to stop a clever company from competing with them I wish I could remember where I read/saw it, but Musk stated that the goal of Tesla was to make the market shift to EVs, not generate profit. My memory is a bit hazy but I'm pretty sure he even said that after that goal was reached, he didn't care what happened to Tesla. With that in mind, the motivation for opening up patents seems pretty straightforward.
- RobertoG 11y ago
  I admire the spirit but, it's a public company, is he not exposing himself to legal problems with this kind of statements?
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]
  - mbenjaminsmith 11y ago
    That's correct; IIRC, they were private at the time.