Episode 551: The Case Against Patents

Enlarge this image STEPHEN LAM/Reuters /Landov STEPHEN LAM/Reuters /Landov

Tesla, the electric car company, recently decided to, basically, give up its patents. Anybody who wants to is now free to steal the company's ideas.

Elon Musk, the company's CEO said he isn't really into patents — and, he said, he thinks giving them up is best for everybody.

On today's show, we take this idea to its logical conclusion. We talk to two guys who say we should get rid of patents altogether. If someone has an idea, anyone else is free to steal it.

Music: Sylvan Esso's "Could I Be." Find us: Twitter/ Facebook/ Spotify. Download the Planet Money iPhone App.