Is it possible that an idea not only has a creator but also an
owner? The basis of the patent law is the conviction that it is
possible. It is natural that we have the right to own what the
fruit of our work is, and the development of a new invention
undoubtedly requires considerable intellectual work. Usually, we
assume that the creator should influence the way his work, which is
expressing his creativity and personality, will be used.
However, in case of the patent law, one more aspect -
utilitarianism - comes to the fore. It turns out that industrial
property rights are simply profitable for the society. According to
the utilitarian approach, we look at the problem not so much from
the perspective of creators' right to have their work at their
disposal, but from the perspective of measurable profit for the
community. Therefore, the patent - which is the exclusive right to
use the invention - is not granted to creators for free. And it is
not only about (often
