Tantlinger had many patents http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Tantlinger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Tantlinger Mr. Diesel (I didn't realize there was a

Tantlinger had many patents http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Tantlinger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Tantlinger Mr. Diesel (I didn't realize there was a Mr. Diesel) also patented his inventions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Diesel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Diesel I note that all the great pioneers seem to have patents: Mr. Birdseye, Mr. Morse, Mr. Bíró, etc. Is it just that we remember these people, because they were successful? I note that where there's patent, there's dispute. Were these people just the winners of litigation, and history is written by the winners? Were the other inventions just as good, or maybe better, but they didn't get the funding, or didn't have as good marketing, or weren't as aggressive? I'm not sure; but it is certain that these guys did invent something, and did bring it to market to make a difference. I just wish patents worked better for software - so that some of us could one day be celebrated in the same way. BTW: I'd like to see more of this kind of article on HN.