Abe Lincoln: patent troll?
It's fashionable gripe about the patent system these days and claim that patent holders are trying to extort money out of legitimate businesses.
But who is and who isn't exploiting the system is a grey area. Abe Lincoln obtained a patent, noted Brian Halla, CEO of National Semiconductor. He got it for inventing an inflatable pontoon that helped boats get past sandbars and other obstacles on canals. It's patent number 6469--see reference here.
He's the only U.S. president ever to get a patent, said Halla. (I haven't had time to verify if Lincoln's … Read more