The software business is fairly unique in that there are companies that are both young and wealthy. If Tesla ever starting making serious profits, I think the

The software business is fairly unique in that there are companies that are both young and wealthy. If Tesla ever starting making serious profits, I think the incumbents would sue for a pound of flesh. The auto industry does enforce their intellectual property. Toyota and Denso are very serious about enforcing the IP on their hybrid drivetrain. Ford and Nissan license the tech, and no one else has developed a CVT + continuously variable assist hybrid setup like Denso/Toyota. I don't think the auto industry would ever take each other to court over trivial patents, for the same reason Microsoft /Apple/IBM don't go to war. If Tesla does make billions in profits, I think the we will see "horn on stick" and "button on steering wheel" patents being enforced.