This isn't 100% true, it's closer to 90% true. There is a narrowly-tailored "research exemption" to patents: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_exemption h

This isn't 100% true, it's closer to 90% true. There is a narrowly-tailored "research exemption" to patents: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_exemption https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_exemption So "private tinkering" where you implement something patented in order to perform research is permitted, but not for one's own benefit, even privately. For the example we're discussing, implementing Thread on some IoT device in order to benchmark it in various ways is in-bounds, but you can't use that device to your own benefit, even privately in your own home.