Patents are intended to temporarily restrict competition. In order to get that, the inventor has to publish the invention.
The time limit creates incentive to go to market. Let’s say a company invents and patents a cure for cancer. If they just sit on it, they’ll get zero revenue, zero return on the cost to discover it… and then in 20 years their competitors can all use it for free. Not a sustainable business model—intentionally.
Patents are intended to temporarily restrict competition. In order to get that, the inventor has to publish the invention.
The time limit creates incentive to go to market. Let’s say a company invents and patents a cure for cancer. If they just sit on it, they’ll get zero revenue, zero return on the cost to discover it… and then in 20 years their competitors can all use it for free. Not a sustainable business model—intentionally.