This is a good idea in theory, but what stops a factory offering to produce one of anything for a few thousand dollars, just to meet the requirements of "making a product." If there are requirements for how many you produce, how does that affect small businesses or businesses that want to keep products exclusive?

This would at least force them to establish an example of a product using their invention, which seems like it'd be a great boon.

Good point, too easy to work around. Shortening to half time as Robotbeat said might be the way to go.

I think in general we should just halve the time of patent protection, including the lead-up time where it hasn’t been finalized yet but still protected.