> So the government gives the maker of a new drug a patent for some number of years. Noob question: Why aren't patents treated like govt issued licenses, leas

> So the government gives the maker of a new drug a patent for some number of years. Noob question: Why aren't patents treated like govt issued licenses, leases? Want exclusive use of airwaves, water, mining, catchy song, clever idea, whatever? Terrific. Pay up. Set the price at just over reasonable. To prevent people from frivolously camping on stuff to exclude others from using it. Economists are smart about setting price. Auctions for stuff that's hard to price (airwaves). Boilerplate for bog standard stuff (trademarks, songs). Whatever works. With some clever veto points to thwart regulatory capture.