> because the sole purpose of patents is to prevent competition. No, the purpose of patents is to make trade secrets into public information so knowledge isn't

> because the sole purpose of patents is to prevent competition. No, the purpose of patents is to make trade secrets into public information so knowledge isn't lost; allowing inventors limited monopolies isn't the purpose, it's the cost, it's the carrot that achieved the goal of getting them to disclose their inventions to benefit all of mankind. You've confused the carrot for the destination.