Tesla patents are now open to use!

[Yamuda]

Source: http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/all-our-patent-are-belong-you

 

 

Yesterday, there was a wall of Tesla patents in the lobby of our Palo Alto headquarters. That is no longer the case. They have been removed, in the spirit of the open source movement, for the advancement of electric vehicle technology.

 

Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles, but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal. Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology.

 

When I started out with my first company, Zip2, I thought patents were a good thing and worked hard to obtain them. And maybe they were good long ago, but too often these days they serve merely to stifle progress, entrench the positions of giant corporations and enrich those in the legal profession, rather than the actual inventors. After Zip2, when I realized that receiving a patent really just meant that you bought a lottery ticket to a lawsuit, I avoided them whenever possible.

 

At Tesla, however, we felt compelled to create patents out of concern that the big car companies would copy our technology and then use their massive manufacturing, sales and marketing power to overwhelm Tesla. We couldn’t have been more wrong. The unfortunate reality is the opposite: electric car programs (or programs for any vehicle that doesn’t burn hydrocarbons) at the major manufacturers are small to non-existent, constituting an average of far less than 1% of their total vehicle sales.

 

At best, the large automakers are producing electric cars with limited range in limited volume. Some produce no zero emission cars at all.

 

Given that annual new vehicle production is approaching 100 million per year and the global fleet is approximately 2 billion cars, it is impossible for Tesla to build electric cars fast enough to address the carbon crisis. By the same token, it means the market is enormous. Our true competition is not the small trickle of non-Tesla electric cars being produced, but rather the enormous flood of gasoline cars pouring out of the world’s factories every day.

 

We believe that Tesla, other companies making electric cars, and the world would all benefit from a common, rapidly-evolving technology platform. 

 

Technology leadership is not defined by patents, which history has repeatedly shown to be small protection indeed against a determined competitor, but rather by the ability of a company to attract and motivate the world’s most talented engineers. We believe that applying the open source philosophy to our patents will strengthen rather than diminish Tesla’s position in this regard.

 

I think this is a great step. I really hate how patents retard the advancements of technology and by Tesla taking this step, it is huge and hope this will influence more companies in a similar fashion. What are your thoughts? Anyone down to engineer an electric vehicle?!

[Askew]

I love the attitude of Musk, he values the advancement of technology as a whole over his own business involvement in said advancement.

[ericlee30]

this is a good thing oh yeah, future cars are going to look sweet.

[xentric]

I will be interested to see how this plays out in the auto industry. I hope more company take notes on this. 

[geogga]

This is why I love tesla

[wpirobotbuilder]

I can't imagine they'll give up all the rights to the patent and make it completely open source. They'll probably allow other manufacturers to use their designs for a licensing fee. Knowing Tesla, it'd be a very reasonable fee.

 

+1 Elon Musk.

[Damikiller37]

Now all we need is major companies jumping to use the technology developed/pioneered by Tesla and follow their steps; by sharing their technologies with other companies as well. Maybe there is a chance of major companies making a 'coalition' of sorts where they will work independently to improve upon the technology and then share with others. At least I see that as a reasonable thing to do especially if we are thinking of expanding the electric cars market which from my point of view is definitely a must sooner or later. Now all we can hope for is other companies to get some sense into their heads and adopt the open mindset.

 

@wpirobotbuilder instead of fees they could do what I said above; sharing an innovation for an innovation.

[JAKEBAB]

Well that was quick. I wonder who will be the first manufacture to use the patents if any.

[wpirobotbuilder]

Well that was quick. I wonder who will be the first manufacture to use the patents if any.

Toyota and Daimler already use them. My guess is Nissan and Honda, they've been very forward-thinking in recent years.

[euniqe]

Toyota and Daimler already use them. My guess is Nissan and Honda, they've been very forward-thinking in recent years.

 

Toyota was working with Tesla on an electric car, but then gave up and is now currentlyworking to further the commercialisation and efficiency of production of hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cells. Honda, too has a lot of money invested in hydrogen fuel cell'ed vehicles (clarity, LA Hydrogen filling station) But I guess that they use electric motors anyway so could benefit from this too.

[rashdanml]

Honestly, Open-source is the best thing that could ever happen. If only more Tech companies embraced that concept, we would have had flying cars by now. 

I should build my own supercharger and buy a Tesla <3

[NInety]

The next step will be open-source 3D printed cars!

[mr moose]

I love the attitude of Musk, he values the advancement of technology as a whole over his own business involvement in said advancement.

 

So true, It's rare to see a ceo put the technology and consequently people before the profits.  I only know of one other ceo like that.

[Askew]

So true, It's rare to see a ceo put the technology and consequently people before the profits.  I only know of one other ceo like that.

 

Who?

[mr moose]

Who?

Bill Gates, All that time he spent in the 3rd world, etc.  

 

I believe the CEO of coles-myre here in Aus, was a big philanthropist but I'm not very familiar with the details.

[Askew]

Bill Gates, All that time he spent in the 3rd world, etc.  

 

I believe the CEO of coles-myre here in Aus, was a big philanthropist but I'm not very familiar with the details.

 

Bill Gates is cash deep in Monsanto though, and I'm not a fan of their behaviour or business models.

[mr moose]

Bill Gates is cash deep in Monsanto though, and I'm not a fan of their behaviour or business models.

I've heard of Monsanto and seen there is a lot of hate for them, but I haven't looked into why.  It's probably something I should but there just isn't enough time in the day to educate myself about everything.  I'm still only half way through the human eye.

[StingBull]

I love the attitude of Musk, he values the advancement of technology as a whole over his own business involvement in said advancement.

 

They were talking about this in the latest Tek. Widespread acceptance of this technology would actually benefit Elon Musk and his company.

[Askew]

I've heard of Monsanto and seen there is a lot of hate for them, but I haven't looked into why.  It's probably something I should but there just isn't enough time in the day to educate myself about everything.  I'm still only half way through the human eye.

 

I recommend you do, they are attempting (alarmingly successfully this far) to turn global agriculture into a private monopoly by using bioengineering and genetic modification to convert crops into patentable intellectual property.

[Askew]

They were talking about this in the latest Tek. Widespread acceptance of this technology would actually benefit Elon Musk and his company.

 

Which episode? I'll watch that.

[StingBull]

Which episode? I'll watch that.

 

The most recent one. Tek 0120.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTIAHn3y7fE

[Askew]

The most recent one. Tek 0120.

 

 

Oh excellent I hadn't checked my sub box yet tonight, Tekysyndicate have uploaded so many Computex videos that I have just been leaving the situation for a couple days at a time to let content gather.

 

Will be watching this Tek before bed

[mr moose]

I recommend you do, they are attempting (alarmingly successfully this far) to turn global agriculture into a private monopoly by using bioengineering and genetic modification to convert crops into patentable intellectual property.

That sounds like patent trolling at it's absolute worst.  Hopefully if the legal system fails us the lynch mobs won't. As bad as that sounds.

[Askew]

That sounds like patent trolling at it's absolute worst.  Hopefully if the legal system fails us the lynch mobs won't. As bad as that sounds.

 

Prepare yourself for some of the existing lawsuits that you will read case files of, if your crop grows near their field, and their patented crops pollenate yours through no fault of their own they can sue you.

 

Monsanto has a colourful history, I bet you never would have guessed they were involved with the uranium enrichment for the Manhattan Project back in the day?

[mr moose]

Prepare yourself for some of the existing lawsuits that you will read case files of, if your crop grows near their field, and their patented crops pollenate yours through no fault of their own they can sue you.

 

Monsanto has a colourful history, I bet you never would have guessed they were involved with the uranium enrichment for the Manhattan Project back in the day?

 

I can't see how that would get through any court, Not saying it isn't happening but if anything the reverse should be true because they have introduced a genetic modification to the environment that is altering other peoples property without their permission (vandalism).

 

And I would believe the uranium thing, many large corporations have their fingers in many pies,  phillip morris (tobacco company) own kraft foods and arnotts.  They are a huge player in the food industry.