What was originally designed to encourage innovation by rewarding the people who create technological advances, the U.S. patent system has become a big mess. Wade into this surprisingly interesting mire to learn how to save this important institution.
AI Summary
# Episode Summary
This Stuff You Should Know episode dives deep into the fascinating world of patents, exploring how the United States protects inventors and their innovations. The hosts trace patent history from medieval England through America's founding, explaining the different types of patents—utility, design, and plant—and breaking down what makes an invention actually patentable. They also tackle the messy modern patent system, revealing how a cottage industry of "patent trolls" has emerged and why approximately 95% of granted patents go unused, costing the economy an estimated trillion dollars annually in lost innovation.
Armageddon
1998
2h 31m
★ 6.8
"But think about deep impact in Armageddon. Let's go back to that well. — Josh references this Michael Bay film alongside Deep Impact as an example of similar movie ideas."
— Josh
As Good as It Gets
1997
2h 19m
★ 7.4
"The guy from As Good as It Gets. Greg Kinnear. — Greg Kinnear's appearance in this film is referenced in relation to a movie about the inventor of the delayed windshield wiper."
Deep Impact
1998
2h 1m
★ 6.2
"But think about deep impact in Armageddon. Let's go back to that well. — Josh uses these two disaster films as an example of how two movies can have similar premises without necessarily involving copyright infringement."
— Josh
"David Lasher and Christine Taylor, stars of the cult classic show, Hey Dude. — Hey Dude is referenced in an advertisement for the podcast 'Hey Dude the 90s Called.'"
"Nancy Rodriguez from Netflix's Love is Blind Season 3. — Love is Blind is mentioned in an advertisement for the Cheekies and Chill podcast."
"I'm a big fan of SharkTank, the TV show. And there's a lot of patent talk. — Chuck mentions watching Shark Tank and noticing patent discussions, which inspired him to research utility patents and design patents."
— Chuck
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