intellectual property Archives

The IP Trap: How Licensing Knowledge Became a Tax on Progress

Thursday, 08 January 2026 by Paul O'Brien

A couple of weeks ago I published Universities Aren’t Commercializing Innovation, They’re Taxing It with a challenge I knew would find support from most but anger from a few. Founders forwarded it privately. Economic developers chimed in with encouragement. Researchers beyond the 25 universities that benefit from commercialization sent me flowers. Intellectual property stifles innovation.

Ideas Are Valuable; Stop Saying They’re Not!

Tuesday, 17 November 2020 by Paul O'Brien

Businesses without ideas are like people with matches trying to light a wet campfire. Striking, striking, and striking again. You have the stuff that's valued (wood, matches) but you can't do anything without a ton of work.