Musk: Tesla and SpaceX Open Patents
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It is well known that patents are crucial for a company. Sometimes, the lack of patent rights can lead to significant expenses for licensing. For instance, in industries like smartphones or automobiles, you either need your own patents or must obtain authorization from others. Unauthorized use of patents can even result in lawsuits.
On December 4th, media reports revealed that Musk, during an interview, stated that none of his companies would engage in activities that stifle competition. He emphasized that Tesla is accelerating humanity's transition to sustainable energy, while SpaceX aims to make humans a multi-planetary species. Therefore, his companies will not pursue monopolistic practices and will open all their patents.
According to the report, Tesla has already open-sourced all its patents, allowing anyone to use them freely. During the interview, Musk stressed, "We don't engage in monopolies. We could have built a wall, but instead, we invited others in to accelerate humanity's transition to sustainable energy."
After the interview video was released, Grace Tao, Tesla's Vice President of External Affairs, reposted it and confirmed the news. Notably, Musk also announced that SpaceX would open all its patents.
Regarding the motivation behind founding SpaceX, Musk has previously explained that he hopes to make humanity a multi-planetary species and explore the essence of the universe. This might help us uncover the meaning of life, such as where we come from and where we are ultimately headed.