Historically basic research in corporations has been done by monopolies (Bell Labs for instance)--therefore there is no tragedy of the commons problem: they are

Historically basic research in corporations has been done by monopolies (Bell Labs for instance)--therefore there is no tragedy of the commons problem: they are the commons. Microsoft research is just another example of this. (edit: I'm dying for someone to bring up pharmaceuticals as a great counterexample to this--if I could be so lucky)