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Did you notice that LFP batteries became more prevalent and much cheaper recently? That's because some key patents expired.

The same thing happened with 3D printing a while ago. It only took off after the patents expired.

Patents are a pest. They're just another mechanism to pump money from below to above.

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> Patents are a pest. They're just another mechanism to pump money from below to above.

Patents are a way to make sure inventors are getting compensated for their R&D work and risk.

I do agree with your observation though - IMHO, the "exclusivity" period of a patent should last five years, and for the 15 years after that, patent holders should be mandated to license out their patent at reasonable pricing.

Should the way they get compensated not be by creating a useful output with said development?

And everyone has access to the capital to do so? Or the business acumen?

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