Penicillin Patent: Fleming's Choice Not to Patent (1928)
by Anonymous
Alexander Fleming chose not to patent penicillin, believing it should be freely available to save lives. This decision meant any company could produce it, enabling mass production that saved millions during WWII and beyond.
No Patent (Free for All)
1928
year
Anyone can produce penicillin
decision
Fleming earned nothing; saved millions of lives
financial impact
Chosen — mass production saved countless lives in WWII
outcome
Patent It
1928
year
Control production and licensing
decision
Enormous personal wealth
financial impact
Not chosen — would have slowed production and raised costs
outcome
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