Patents are one way people can make deals with innovators that can make some innovation more likely, but its not the only way this could be done. I think the c

Patents are one way people can make deals with innovators that can make some innovation more likely, but its not the only way this could be done. I think the coercive element, the idea that someone can be sued for doing something they have an inherent right to do is the problem. It is one thing when people agree that they need something and offer to buy it exclusively from whoever creates the first viable product. It is quite another to coerce everyone to do so. That said, we should not hand out monopolies that are not in the interest of most citizens. And what is in our interest is determined rather badly with winner-take-all elections and the power they give to lobbyists.