I think a lot of early scientists and inventors got embroiled in patent disputes and lawsuits etc. In UK, mainland Europe too. Say what you might, money is a bi

I think a lot of early scientists and inventors got embroiled in patent disputes and lawsuits etc. In UK, mainland Europe too. Say what you might, money is a big motivator and that is what kept US going. Altruism is all fine for occasional gestures like not patenting some medicine or stuff like that but sustained innovation is basically a profit chasing exercise. And patents are its biggest enabler. Anyway my comment was in the context of speed of innovation. Humanity that struggled to get a cycle going for 50 years managed to fly in the next 10 years and within the next 50, intercontinental regular passenger flights were common!