Yeah. They protect the weak from the strong. Like Musk.
There is plenty wrong with the patent system, but its goal of giving power to "weak" innovators is not one of them.
Except that there's sooooo many instances of parents being abused by the "not-weak" to rent seek and prevent innovation outright.
I invented new wheeling mechanism for skateboards/rollerskates. Finnish patent officer decided however that there was an American patent already. Except the American patent was all wrong, it turned left when you tilted right and viceversa. https://photos.app.goo.gl/xSMPWfeoRa8Qngn5A
Elon Musk is fabulously rich, so maybe there's something to this!