NEWS

Musk said patents are a game for the weak. Don't be fooled.

Release time:

2023-07-28 13:45

Elon Musk is my idol, but I don't agree with his evaluation of patents.

Musk said in an interview with foreign media that he was interested in his company's patents:“I never apply for a patent, it is the game of the weak, it is meaningless to promote the development of science and technology. The real competitive advantage is the speed of your innovation, not the development of others.”

 

InIn 2014-2019, Musk twice announced the opening of Tesla patents, announcing that he would not sue people who used Tesla patents in good faith.

 

Elon Musk is a pioneer of interstellar colonization, and its spaceX company has completed a stunning initiative to recover rockets.

 

The general public may regard the patent speech as a free opening to give back to the society.

 

The author on this"Goodwill" is more curious. In general, anyone who uses Tesla's patents should not only let Tesla use their patents for free, but also open their own patents to the whole industry free of charge. Even if Tesla infringes on its trade secrets and trademarks, it cannot sue Tesla.

 

This is actually andThe open source approach is similar:

 

CurrentlyApple,Microsoft,IBMMuch of the competition between them comes fromChange of Open Source

 

Open soure（Open source software means that people can use its open source code, design record format or content) People in all fields will use it, and almost no software will use and monopolize customers.Because users can choose other open source software with the same functions, and it is free. This will have a profound impact on the world.

 

How many people can accept such restrictions?

 

Musk's headache competitor Blue origin accused SpaceX of patent infringement in 2015, and Musk finally won the lawsuit to prove that it was its existing technology in 1998.

 

We simply reviewMusk bought the rocket, PayPal went to Russia to 8 million after the successful acquisition.He began to carry out independent research and development and was ridiculed by the United States for building starships on PPT.

 

Long-term mental depression collapsed and the company struggled to raise capital.

 

After many rounds of torture, it was not easy to have the opportunity to launch. At this time a paper, a few numbers make you unable to move.

 

If I were the author, I would have a nasty psychology towards patents at this time.

 

Tesla's core lies in software. Patent applications are much less than those of ordinary car companies. In the future, Tesla will continue to encounter patent troubles. Similar to Apple's annual payment of huge patent license fees, it does not mean that its own technology does not need to pay. If all patents are opened, Tesla can indeed save huge patent fees and litigation costs.

 

Just imagineThe first patent Steve Jobs applied for Apple in 1977 successfully prevented global competitors from taking advantage of large orders. Without the protection of the patent system, IBM would have been strangled in the cradle. Which small company could have fought against it.

 

So can only sayMusk's dislike of patents is understandable and not a game for the underdog. The patent system itself is to encourage innovation to gain market advantage, so as to occupy the market and stimulate innovation.