Effort Quote by Irwin M. Jacobs
“At Linkabit, we put little effort and energy into patenting things.”
About This Quote
Source Company: Linkabit internal memo, 1970s
The company chose to invest minimal resources in protecting inventions through patents.
In simple terms: Linkabit deprioritized patenting.
Consider the trade‑off between openness and protection.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- startup culture
- tech R&D
- legal strategy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Is protecting ideas always worth the cost?
- When should a firm prioritize openness?
Neglecting patents can expose ideas to competitors.