Hacker News Reader

In case of 3D printers, patents worked as expected. 3 different methods were invented, patented (opened to public with protection for 20 years), then patent are expired, and general public was able to fruit developed technology and advance it further.

Just compare this to commercial secret practice.

View on HN

Commercial secret practices would have had 3D printers reverse engineered 20 years ago. So yes, maybe they worked as expected, but it's not clear the public benefitted more under that system.

You’re describing the basic operation of a patent which is not in dispute. What I am saying is that the societal costs outweigh the benefits and despite the common belief, patents are not actually a net good for society. I describe this in more detail (including alternatives to secrecy) here:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28659377

Reply on news.ycombinator.com