Patent Quote by Jonas Salk
““There is no patent. Could you patent the Sun?””
About This Quote
Source Interview: 1970s public health discussion
Ideas that are fundamental to nature cannot be owned or patented.
In simple terms: Nature cannot be patented.
Key Takeaway
Respect natural commons.
Themes
ethics
innovation
property rights
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research funding
- drug development
- open source
- environmental law
Key Concepts
intellectual property
science policy
Questions to Reflect On
- Should essential discoveries be free?
- How to reward creators fairly?
A Different Perspective
Balancing incentives for innovation with public access is complex.
![“[Who owns the patent on this vaccine?] Well, the people, I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?” quote by Jonas Salk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4fa/jonas-salk-9307_humility_who-owns-the-patent-on-this-vaccine-well_3027708.jpg)
![“In 1955, amid the great fanfare that accompanied the initial release of the [polio] vaccine, Dr. Jonas Salk was asked who owned the patent. He replied, "Well, the people, I would say. Could you patent the sun?” quote by John Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bcd/john-abramson-70948_patent_in-1955-amid-the-great-fanfare-that-acco_3116656.jpg)
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
