An obligatory license is a kind of patent. That modifications of our current patent system are possible is not something I'm likely to argue against, and haven'

An obligatory license is a kind of patent. That modifications of our current patent system are possible is not something I'm likely to argue against, and haven't here. The guy tried. That a spaceship or marvelous benefactor or coincidental prize could have landed and paid him money is true, but not probable. Governments weren't in the business of mining (the application then.) They had no interest, but in any case do you really want them picking winners today? Their record is horrible in that way. You cite a military example with Eli Whitney, but I had answered that in advance. As for industry prizes only he understood that such an advance in fuel-efficiency was possible. I really don't think you've ever tried to sell an idea of this kind.