4 ms·
Genuinely ignorant question: couldn't a company file for a patent, and then open-source it? (not sure if open-source is even the right terminology) I'm picturi
by heymijo 9y ago
Genuinely ignorant question: couldn't a company file for a patent, and then open-source it? (not sure if open-source is even the right terminology)
I'm picturing a scenario where the idea is patented, but the patent holder reserves no rights on it, de-weaponizing the patent.
Thus no one else can patent the idea and use it offensively nor is there a question of the original patent holder "turning evil" and using the patent as a weapon.
- burger_moon 9y agoIn 1956 At&T was forced to license all it's patents as part of a deal with the government to remain a monopoly. This is called a compulsory license. A company could do this and simple not charge a fee for the patent. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_license#Patents https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_license#Patents