The idea a patent is really old - going back at least to the 1300s in England. During that time, if a secret technology (let's say to build a better gun or a better clock) was determined to exist, the reigning monarch would issue a "letters patent" for a specified length of time granting the inventor a monopoly on production of the devices in return for access to the new technology. Such letters patents were usually very specific deals (each one different), but usually included some appointment to a position of power for the inventor. Later, 1500s-1600s, the process became more standardized and written in laws and cultural process. But, patents were created around accelerating technology development and sharing.
On Tue, Jan 31, 2017 at 11:52 AM, Alain Sepeda <[email protected]> wrote: > I know many secrets were lost during the building of France Cathedrales, > especially about glass making and decorations. Few were rediscovered > recently, but some stay mysterious. > > Industrial revolution raised the awareness of this problem, leading to > Patent idea, that seems to be contemporary to USA foundation ... > > 2017-01-31 17:53 GMT+01:00 Jed Rothwell <[email protected]>: > >> Bob Higgins <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Prior to patent rights granted by the government, new technology was >>> protected by trade secret - tell no one. Nothing was shared and technology >>> advancement was slow. >>> >> >> I do not know what era you have in mind. In the U.S., we have had patents >> all along, even before independence. The patent system is written into the >> Constitution. >> >> With any important technology, trade secrets never work for long. >> Competitors reverse engineer the machine, or they hire employees who know >> how it is made. Still, patents are a better way to ensure rapid progress -- >> to everyone's benefit. >> >> Lincoln was the only president to hold a patent. He thought a lot about >> patents and technology. Here are some quotes from him, most famously: >> >> "The patent system . . . added the fuel of interest to the fire of genius >> in the discovery and production of new and useful things." >> >> https://todayinsci.com/L/Lincoln_Abraham/LincolnAbraham-Quotations.htm >> >> - Jed >> >> >
