> patents were intended to allow huge corporations to suppress competition Afaik, there weren't any "huge corporations" around when the patent system was first

> patents were intended to allow huge corporations to suppress competition Afaik, there weren't any "huge corporations" around when the patent system was first devised, only what today would look like mid-size national companies. There is a good chance the initial legislators thought they were actually protecting the little guys. Alas, good intentions tend to pave roads to very hot places...