Competition Quote by Robert H. Jackson
“While the Nation has forbidden monopoly by one set of laws it has been creating them by another. Patent laws, valuable as they may be in some respects, often father monopoly.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Patent Policy, 1945
Legal frameworks intended to limit monopoly can unintentionally create new monopolies, especially through patent systems.
In simple terms: Patents can foster monopoly.
Key Takeaway
Scrutinize laws for hidden monopoly effects.
Themes
law
economics
monopoly
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
policy
philosophical
When to use this quote
- tech industry
- pharmaceuticals
- software licensing
- media rights
Key Concepts
patent law
regulation
competition policy
Questions to Reflect On
- Are patents always beneficial?
- How can law prevent monopoly abuse?
A Different Perspective
Balancing innovation incentives with market fairness is complex.
![“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)
![“As the commercial confrontation between [free software] and software-that's-a-product becomes more fierce, patent law's going to be the terrain on which a big piece of the war's going to be fought. Waterloo is here somewhere.” quote by Eben Moglen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/040/eben-moglen-39549_bigs_as-the-commercial-confrontation-between_921209.jpg)
