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I reject the idea that patent and IP law would have made these developments occur sooner. In fact, I blame the slow down in technological development partly on
by Thorentis 4y ago
I reject the idea that patent and IP law would have made these developments occur sooner. In fact, I blame the slow down in technological development partly on patent and IP law. You think the rapid development seen during the industrial revolution could have happened if people were at litigious as they are now? The ability to create derivative inventions is essential to progress.
- stareatgoats 4y agoYour perspective on patents seems colored by the relative recent advent of patent trolls and the use of litigation to stifle innovation and competition. I suggest you look at the situation in England around 300 years ago and compare to the feudal system that was the rule elsewhere at the time - everything had to be approved by the king or the nobility, who had vested interests in land owning and serf systems. This social order was the real inhibitor of technological progress that England was the first country the liberate itself from. Laws that protected the IP rights of inventors were absolutely crucial to that process.
- lolc 4y agoCheck out the Wright brothers patent war at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_brothers_patent_war https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_brothers_patent_war
- stareatgoats 4y agoThanks that was interesting. But I'm not sure if there is a point related to the discussion in there or if this is just a tangential piece of trivia?
- lolc 4y agoIt's an example of how the patent system will present legal hurdles to inventors. Not just opportunities.
- noselasd 4y agoIf you follow what those industrial pioneers were up to, you will find them at least at litigious as people are today. They certainly protected their patents and inventions with teeth and claws