For example, I know someone who owns a patent on blue lasers reading data from a storage medium. She has been quite calm about it and lets mega corporations use the method for not a lot of money. Blu-ray tech can't be controlled by a single company because it has to be licensed through this random individual.
That's a nice example, but not being able to patent the technology would also ensure the tech can't be controlled.
I suspect the number of level-headed individuals who control patents is far outweighed by the corporate patent holders who care only about extracting money from them, societal considerations be damned.
you aren't wrong. I shouldn't have any patents, but I do because we had a quota for filing patents on whatever we were making at Big Tech. It's a blessing and a curse.
The line between the government and the oligarchs is pretty blurry: I'm not sure if distinct names are warranted.
How do patents protect against oligarchy?