Patents, Novelty, and Trolls: Crash Course Intellectual Property #4

This week, Stan teaches you about patents. It turns out, they're patently complicated! So, patents have some similarities to copyright, in that they grant a limited monopoly to people who invent things. The key difference between patents and copyright is that patents are for THINGS. Copyright is for an idea. So, if you've come up with a great new invention, like for example, a condiment gun, you should get a patent. We'll also talk about some of the limitations and problems of patents, including patent trolls

Thanks to the following Patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever:

Mark Brouwer, Jan Schmid, Steve Marshall, Anna-Ester Volozh, Sandra Aft, Brad Wardell, Christian Ludvigsen, Robert Kunz, Jason, A Saslow, Jacob Ash, Jeffrey Thompson, Jessica Simmons, James Craver, Simun Niclasen, SR Foxley, Roger C. Rocha, Nevin, Spoljaric, Eric Knight, Elliot Beter, Jessica Wode, Pigmy Wurm, Sverre Rabbelier, Liubko Qwert, Denis Anton, Dagongdong-Thorpe, Gwendolyn Gillson, Caleb S Dockter, Tessa Huddleston, Michael Hughes-Narborough, Alex Freeman-Smith

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Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?

[amilahusic]

I'm soooo happy Crash Course is covering something that is law-related. Even though its based on the legal system of the US. I find that its great insight for non-american viewers, (like myself), great for comparison.

[jchobbit]

I'm happy to see Stan on these things. You seem like a natural on the camera!

[pascal]

Thank you for all the Videos "Intellectual Property"

[KyleKatarnBanthaHerder]

5:54

As an owner of a pet parrot, I can absolutely say that a bird diaper sounds like a wonderful invention that is completely worth the resources needed to issue the patent.

[crawlinsideasong]

I was amused by the Colbert Report reference at 8:01-8:07. Bravo, Thought Bubble!

[SchiferlED]

Idea for improving patent law: Instead of giving monopoly rights to the inventor, government should simply pay the inventor for the rights and then release the patent to the public. Inventors have a direct incentive to come up with new stuff, and the public gets the full benefit (which they are paying for with tax money). Having monopoly rights for such a long time period does not make sense with the current rate of technological advancement.

This is of course a band-aid to make patent law work with capitalism. Fixing capitalism itself would be a much better solution long-term.

[bitreview]

We need a 8-ball viewer when Stan shakes it

[JazSimone]

I'm amazed at how engaging you are.

[nuttynathan]

Stan, Mark, CrashCourse as a whole!-- this series is awesome! Keep it up!

[theseamusexperience]

After crash course finishes it's youtube run, it would make a great online university

[SangoProductions]

20 to 25 years? That's not half bad. OK, it's a few years longer than I've been alive, but compared to copyright which is 100+ years *after* the author dies, this seems very much decent.

[Dronebertios_World]

PRESCOTT PHARMACEUTICALS OMG!!! The thought bubble animators ROCK!

[rachelpoulos]

This is my favorite crash course, and I love them all!

[wiggumesquilax]

So patent trolls are vulnerable to ketchup?

*Puts fire away, begrudgingly.

[TheVlog]

PRESCOTT PHARMACEUTICALS! ( 8:03 )
I miss Colbert so much...

[zaram]

Take breaths when you talk. It makes for better hosting and sounds a lot more pleasant to listen to! From the perspective of the audience

[MaskinJunior]

As an innovator I think patents are making my job harder. Because how some patents have been approved for things that is not in production, it is very difficult to make sure no part of the new innovation infringes on a existing patent. It is also werry expensive to file for a patent. My company keep my innovation secret instead because we cant afford patenting it.

[charleshanson]

The recent Hague Treaty for international filing of design IP protections actually extends US Design Patent protection to 15 years starting with applications filed on or after May 13, 2015.

[Creepzza]

The Merchant Marine-picture xD Also I love the roasting of that ball.

[quinnleavitt]

I really think you guys should make a crash course engineering series! That'd be really awesome.