patent, n.Trivia

Ben Franklin never sought a patent for a single one of his many inventions, wanting instead to share them, "freely and gladly".

WD-40 has never been patented as patenting would force them to disclose their recipe

Hollywood moved from New York to Los Angeles to escape Thomas Edison’s patents that hemmed in the industry.

Coca-Cola never patented their "secret formula" because otherwise they would be required to disclose it to the public.

The patent for the fire hydrant was destroyed in a fire