For a small(ish) company good alternative to patents is trade secret. If you really invent something valuable, never publish it. Companies like MS, Google, Ama

For a small(ish) company good alternative to patents is trade secret. If you really invent something valuable, never publish it. Companies like MS, Google, Amazon can justify free academic research because they have infrastructure that uses the research. They don't make their profits directly from the research. Deep Mind can only get value from fundamental research using patents or trade secrets. Being just a consulting gig company does not generate enough profits to justify basic research. Its the same in electronics I'm more familiar with. Small design company can from IP licensing, but if you want to keep working with some fundamental research that does not fall under a copyright, you must choose between patent or trade secret to benefit from the research.