1. Before 1900, when someone came up with an idea, it was unlikely that someone else came up with that idea.
2. Because only one person had that idea, patenting protected their idea from being stolen.
3. After 1900, however, multiple people would have the same idea, but only one person could win.
4. Because only one person could win, it became a net loss to all the others, as they could no longer innovate.
4a. One example of this is the wright brothers.
Is that correct? If so:
1/2. I believe that people have been coming up with the same ideas simultaneously for a long time. Leibniz and Newton comes to mind, for example.
3/4. But would any of them have been able to get investments into their projects if they couldn't patent it and then reap the benefits?
1. Before 1900, when someone came up with an idea, it was unlikely that someone else came up with that idea.
2. Because only one person had that idea, patenting protected their idea from being stolen.
3. After 1900, however, multiple people would have the same idea, but only one person could win.
4. Because only one person could win, it became a net loss to all the others, as they could no longer innovate.
4a. One example of this is the wright brothers.
Is that correct? If so:
1/2. I believe that people have been coming up with the same ideas simultaneously for a long time. Leibniz and Newton comes to mind, for example.
3/4. But would any of them have been able to get investments into their projects if they couldn't patent it and then reap the benefits?