[pzone]

Innovation is also hampered when inventors are not sufficiently compensated for the broad social value they create with a new invention. When anyone is allowed to copy a new invention instantly, there is not enough incentive to innovate. A good patent system must strike a balance between these two forces.

[quercetumMons]

>inventors are not sufficiently compensated

Patents do little to nothing in this regard.

[tsujp]

Incorrect. Patents quite literally to provide the developer of a new technology a legal monopoly for some time so they can (maybe) recoup their costs as an incentivisation mechanism to encourage innovation.

[brlewis]

s/literally/theoretically/

When I'm looking to spend money to solve a problem, I search for a product or service to buy.

I never, ever, ever search for a patent to license, because that's stepping into a legal minefield.

Show me a field where people looking to spend money to solve a problem search the patent database for solutions, and I'll believe there's a field where patents are a good thing.