Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

No. In fact, patents are exactly the opposite.

They only grant the right to exclude others from doing something. So if i own a patent on X, it gives me the right to prevent others from doing X.

Even if i license my patent on X to you, it does not necessarily mean you can do X, because doing X may also require other patents that my patent is an extension of. In other words:

Imagine we have patented processes, each building on the last. Patent A covers doing thing one Patent B covers doing thing one, then thing two Patent C covers doing thing one, then thing two, then thing three.

Granting you only the right to perform patent C does not enable you to perform the process described by patent C, you'd still need licenses for patent B and patent A to do that.



Consider applying for YC's Fall 2026 batch! Applications are open till July 27.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: