I think this is a great analogy. A hypothesis: If financial innovations were patentable we'd have a lot more transparency on the way the industry operates. As

I think this is a great analogy. A hypothesis: If financial innovations were patentable we'd have a lot more transparency on the way the industry operates. Assuming non-frivolous patents, it's hard to complain about being unable to copy a sophisticated financial technique, because of the industries opacity.