Not at all, and that isn't what I said. This technology is conservatively worth trillions. JB suggested that it be taken by the government, and Mills be paid what it's worth. I am simply pointing out that no one has ever paid trillions for a technology. When the amount gets that high, the technology is simply stolen, the theft swept under the rug, and obscured by legal niceties.
I disagree. Transistors were ultimately worth trillions, but AT&T was fully paid during the time its patents were in effect. So were other patent holders such as Texas Instruments. The Mills invention may *eventually* be worth trillions in the aggregate, but probably not during the life of the patent, even if it starts with a bang. As things are now working out, it seems likely to me the patents will expire before any technology is developed or sold, and Mills will have nothing.
Airplanes are another major technology that was patented. The first patent held up, and so did subsequent patents filed by others. In 1917, to promote wartime production, the government stepped in and forced all patent holders to accept a standard fee, so that any manufacturer could get free access to the technology. I imagine something similar would happen with the Mills device.
If it comes to a free-market free-for-all without patents, my guess is that Mills would not stand a chance. He might as well give the stuff away and hope to win a Nobel Prize, because he will not earn a dime any other way.
- Jed
