I agree it's a tall order to compete with ASML, patents notwithstanding. So yes patents are not everything, even though cross-licensing is beneficial, rather th

I agree it's a tall order to compete with ASML, patents notwithstanding. So yes patents are not everything, even though cross-licensing is beneficial, rather than invent it yourself. Actually the James Webb telescope, which has a scheduled launch this year, started out in 1996. Given the 25 years it has taken so far and a huge amount of money, then it's not too far fetched to imagine someone replicating a space telescope. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Webb_Space_Telescope https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Webb_Space_Telescope And now it seems that the name might be changed before launch. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02010-x https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02010-x