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.
This Stuff You Should Know episode dives into the fascinating world of patents, exploring how America built its innovation engine right into the Constitution and why that system might be a bit broken today. Josh and Chuck walk through everything from Mark Twain's elastic bra strap patent to the modern battles between tech companies and pharmaceutical giants, explaining what makes something patentable and why patent trolls have become such a headache. You'll learn about the three types of patents, famous inventors like Edison and the controversial Jerome Lemelson, and discover why a trillion dollars worth of unused innovation is just sitting in legal limbo.
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