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To be clear, according to the supreme court, "It grants only the right to exclude others". So it's a misunderstanding to say "The entire point of a patent is t
by cafebeen 12y ago
To be clear, according to the supreme court, "It grants only the right to exclude others". So it's a misunderstanding to say "The entire point of a patent is to make it publicly available while funneling money to the patent holder". Sure, patents are often used to release details about an invention while making money off it, but that's just one use case. For example, it can just as well be used as an obstacle to slow down competitors.
- saraid216 12y ago"To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;"
- cafebeen 12y agoI don't see anything about an invention being "publicly available while funneling money to the patent holder". The "exclusive right" part means the invention is legally the property of the inventor. Others can improve on it, but there is no guarantee the public can use the actual invention until the patent expires.