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A comment on Ask HN: Why are patents transferable?.

Re:Ask HN: Why are patents transferable? by duncan_bayne on Wednesday August 03, 2011 @10:49PM (#2844277)
> why wouldn't a patent become public domain once the creator dies

Because there'd be a financial incentive to kill patent holders?

If you think that's far-fetched, consider that some organisations are quite happy to torture their employees with silicosis if it means they can make faded jeans cheaply (Google it).

(On a related note, abolish patents!)

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: Why are patents transferable? by Dysiode on Wednesday August 03, 2011 @11:19PM (#2844357)
> Because there'd be a financial incentive to kill patent holders?

To be fair, a) people don't kill copyright holders before Disney got a hold of the legislation (or did they?) and b) I imagine the legal ramifications would outweigh, at least largely in part, the benefits of assassination.

[ Parent | on HN ]