Tesla Motors opens up all patents, encouraging open-source EV tech market

Tesla Motors and its owner and CEO, Elon Musk made a rather ballsy move recently by opening up all of its patents to the rest of the automotive world as an “act of good faith,” in hopes to encourage EV tech and market growth as well as the evolution of the concept. Additionally, Musk commented saying that he and his company “will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology.”

This is a a big move either way because automobile manufacturers are so competitive with each other, they tend to penny-pinch every little detail and innovation they come up with, sealing it off from the rest of the world and biting everyone else’s hand off of those who decide to try and get a piece of the action. It’s almost synonymous to the music industry’s crackdown on copyright infringement and unauthorized sharing and distribution and how it significantly stymies growth (maybe they should take some advice from Musk too).

Musk disclosed that he originally obtained the patents because he initially feared that larger auto makers would copy their technology and then use it to their advantage, putting the smaller Tesla brand at a much more significant disadvantage. But this is obviously not the case as he observes that major manufacturers still have extremely small EV programs that really don’t pose as a threat to Tesla themselves, being significantly limited in total driving range and production volume.

“Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles, but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal,” remarked Musk.

Source: Tesla Motors

Photo Source: Business Insider