Science
Musk: We Don’t Patent Anything. Patents Are For The Weak.
While most companies consider their patents among their most valuable assets, Elon Musk says, “Most patents are B.S.”
Elon Musk tells Jay Leno that his companies (Space X, Tesla) do not patent anything. “Most patents are B.S.” “We don’t really patent anything.”
Musk posted a brief video clip of himself and Leno touring his Texas SpaceX Starbase facility and viewing his SpaceX Raptor engines. Leno asks Musk if this technology is patented. Musk responds:
“We don’t really patent things. I don’t care about patents. At Tesla, we open source all our patents. Anyone can use them. Patents are for the weak. Patents are generally used as a blocking technique. They’re like using land mines in warfare. They don’t actually help advance things. They just stop others from following you. Most patents are B.S.”
We’ve never previously heard a technology company, let alone a super-successful technology company with frequent innovations, disclaiming patents. In fact, every technology company we’ve ever been familiar with has placed great value on its patents and has listed patents among its “intellectual property” assets on its balance sheets.
Of course, we have all seen gigantic court battles concerning patent rights, with huge awards paid to patent holders by infringers.
Brave new world. Elon Musk is just different. He has refreshing new views on so much. What other innovator would disclaim patents that have enormous value? Just think back on the patent wars between Edison and Westinghouse, or Polaroid v. Kodak, Apple v. Samsung, and so many more.