[mwd_]

I wonder how much this industry could be or already is locked down by patents? Anybody know? The cynical part of me worries that, if this isn't bogged down by obstructionists, then most of the economic advantage will be captured by Google or some other big monopoly.

I believe that, if this works out, it will be a huge technological improvement that will dramatically improve the quality of life of a lot of people. Imagine all the people who can't drive right now because they are disabled, for example. Many of those people who live in suburban or rural areas are just stuck inside a lot of the time. Having a car that can park itself somewhere away from where its passengers are dropped off is another big advantage. Or maybe it won't be much of a net benefit to average people because they'll have to fork over tons of money to have an automated vehicle.

[andyl]

Self-driving cars are a risky technology that requires large, long-term capital investments and genuine innovations. If Google is granted a 20-year monopoly on their in-house inventions, to me that would be a fair and proper use of the patent systems.

I'm opposed to the patent-troll business practices that have arisen recently, but not opposed to a patent system that grants rights to genuine innovators who take risks to bring new developments to market.

[waterlesscloud]

The other companies who will want this technology (car companies) are extremely well connected politically, and infinitely more experienced than Google at lobbying (see gas mileage requirements).

Google simply won't be allowed to monopolize the technology, no matter what patents they have.

[obtu]

Seems like they are looking for partnerships (they wouldn't really want to get into the business of integrating and building the whole hardware I expect):

> While Google had no immediate plans to commercially develop the system, the company hopes to develop a business which would market the system and the data behind it to automobile manufacturers (from the Wikipedia page).

[rhino42]

Last I checked, Google has a strong history of only using its patents defensively. I believe that's a good sign :-)