Duke From Canada, joined Sep 1999, 1138 posts, RR: 2 Posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 11 hours ago) and read 1497 times:
When the Wright Brothers flew the first successful plane, did they take out any patents on it? If so, how long did they last? Other people started building their own pretty quickly after the Wrights. Does anyone technically hold a patent to the airplane today?
Caboclo From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 203 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week ago) and read 1418 times:
The Wright brothers did try to patent the aircraft, as well as some individual systems, such as ailerons. I don't remember exactly how the story went, but they got into a protracted legal battle, I think with Glenn Curtis. In the end, they put all their resources into the protecting the patent, and didn't continue building airplanes. Therefore, their preimminence in the industry was very short lived.
CRPilot From Costa Rica, joined Nov 2004, 311 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week ago) and read 1389 times:
At this point based on aircraft assembly, I would say that many companies hold the patents to the modern aircraft. From the engines to the seats, I'm sure all the different companies have patent all the different parts they provide.
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