Ben Franklin was a patent hippie! Learn why.
We all know the story of Benjamin Franklin and the lightning storm and the key. He discovered electricity! Or so the story goes. In addition to the lightning rod, Franklin was a prodigious inventor.
He invented bifocals, the Franklin stove, the flexible urinary catheter and the glass armonica. However, Franklin never patented any of his inventions. Instead, he wanted to invent freely.
In his autobiography, he wrote "as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously."