Tesla has just announced that it is removing all patents associated to its electric vehicles, allowing its competitors to use the innovative technology in their own products. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, says that the company’s primary goal is “to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport,” and that patenting the technologies they develop merely inhibits others from reaching the same goal.

Technology leadership is not defined by patents … but rather by the ability of a company to attract and motivate the world’s most talented engineers

Musk says that when Tesla first started, it used patents as it was concerned larger manufacturers would steal its technology and use their might to put Tesla out of business. As time passed, however, Musk realised that large manufacturers devote such a small amount of resources to electric vehicle advancement that it is impossible for Tesla alone “to build electric cars fast enough to address the carbon crisis.”

He firmly believes that opening his technologies to others will help the world “benefit from a common, rapidly-evolving technology platform.” It’s an admirable stance from Musk, and one that he hopes will accelerate the turn towards electrically-powered vehicles.