I've long thought that'd be a good idea: The government practically gives away these legal monopolies — but really, they're like hunting licenses, allowing patent holders to try to levy (what amount to) taxes that are paid indirectly by the public. So it doesn't seem unreasonable that the public should get its cut.
Yes, sometimes a patent holder really is providing a benefit to the public in exchange — but not always.
That money never comes out of the top level legal fictions. It's always the consumer.
bix6•7h ago
This is a stupid proposal.
credit_guy•6h ago
bix6•2h ago