[_seininn]

> unless companies get to protect real IP that they develop themselves, what's the point in developing anything.

To make money.

Companies (and people) have been developing new technology long before patents were introduced, and something tells me that they will continue to do so just fine even in the unlikely event of the patent system is abolished.

The millions spent give them the advantage of being the first to introduce this type of product in market. Nothing more.

on a personal note: I'd hate to think what would have happened if everyone throughout history thought of "IP" the same way people nowadays seem to think. We'd probably just started producing cars that need to be cranked to start.