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
Like this comparison? Make it your own.
Sign up to use as templateMore in History
William the Conqueror: Invade England or Stay in Normandy (1066)
Invade England vs Press Diplomatic Claim vs Accept the Situation
Chernobyl: Response Strategy (1986)
Information Suppression (Chosen) vs Immediate Transparency and Evacuation
Vaccination Mandate: Smallpox (Massachusetts, 1809)
Mandatory Vaccination vs Voluntary Vaccination
Nuremberg Trials: Prosecute or Amnesty (1945)
International Criminal Trials vs Summary Execution (Morgenthau's Preference) vs General Amnesty
Lincoln: Fort Sumter — Reinforce, Abandon, or Resupply (1861)
Resupply Only (Food, Not Arms) vs Reinforce with Troops vs Evacuate the Fort
European Coal and Steel Community: First Step to EU (1951)
Supranational Authority (ECSC) vs Traditional Bilateral Treaties