As history shows us, the consequences can be significant.
One famous example is the case of the Wright brothers, who filed a patent for their airplane design in 1906, but it was later invalidated in court due to prior art. This allowed other airplane manufacturers to enter the market, leading to increased competition and innovation.

Another example is the case of Thomas Edison’s motion picture patent. Edison filed for a patent on his motion picture invention in 1891, but it was later discovered that he was not the first to invent the technology. Edison’s patent was eventually invalidated, and other filmmakers were able to enter the market, leading to the growth of the film industry.
A more recent example is the case of Polaroid, which filed a patent for instant photography in 1947. The company initially held a dominant position in the market, but when its patent expired, other companies developed similar technology at a lower cost. This led to the decline of Polaroid and the rise of digital photography.

​These examples demonstrate the importance of patents and the potential consequences of losing or misusing them.

​To protect their intellectual property and maintain their competitive edge, companies must ensure that their patents are valid and enforced properly.