> SawStop invented a thing. Does that mean nobody else can ever produce a similar thing? No. SawStop patents (there are many) begin expiring in 2021. > Ford c

> SawStop invented a thing. Does that mean nobody else can ever produce a similar thing? No. SawStop patents (there are many) begin expiring in 2021. > Ford created the first mass-production automobile. Did that stop other companies from developing their own cars with their own internal-combustion engine? As you say, Ford wasn't first to the ICE car game. They did have patents on the Model-T, though. >Where do you draw the line on what is patentable and what is not? https://www.legalzoom.com/knowledge/patent/topic/what-is-patentable https://www.legalzoom.com/knowledge/patent/topic/what-is-pat... > If I have designed a new pharmaceutical compound and it is patented, does that mean other companies can not synthesize their own version of the same compound and sell it under a different brand name? That is correct. > I suppose if we apply this logic to mechanical devices, you pretty much kill all competition for the life of the patent. This logic does apply to mechanical devices, but it doesn't "kill all competition" because companies can design around existing patents. If you can find another way to achieve the same effect that's not covered by the patent, then you're fine. In practice, this happens all the time.