• Tony N@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    52
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    4 months ago

    Good Guy Ford patents the worst possible technology so no other automaker can use it, and then never implements it themselves.

    • Kecessa
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      16
      ·
      4 months ago

      That’s what I was going to ask, should people start patenting things in order to prevent companies from using them?

      • 14th_cylon@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        11
        ·
        edit-2
        4 months ago

        Getting patent is fucking expensive, also it is afaik region-limited. You can get your patent for say EU, you need lawyers and lot of money for that, and if you would like to extend that to US, you need new lawyers and more money.

        So it is out of realm of what’s possible for normal person.

        • catloaf@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          4 months ago

          It’s not that expensive in the US. A few hundred is typical, and you don’t need a lawyer (though spending the money on one up front will save you from spending more when you screw it up the first few times).

          • 14th_cylon@lemm.ee
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            5
            ·
            edit-2
            4 months ago

            It’s not that expensive in the US. A few hundred

            Ok, that’s less than what I would have expected, but still more than what most people want to invest into something that’s basically a joke.

              • 14th_cylon@lemm.ee
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                1
                ·
                4 months ago

                Don’t you need working prototype to get a patent? Otherwise musk or bezos or another for-profit asshole could patent every known scifi gimmick, wait until someone actually invents it and then send him a bill…?