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November 16, 2007
Some things never change
I recently came across a book written over a hundred years ago by the English journalist William Thomas Stead, entitled The Americanization of the World, Or The Trend of the Twentieth Century (available through Google Book Search). Stead was a popular writer of his time, who later perished on the Titanic. The core argument of this book was that Britain could only guarantee future glory if it re-united with the United States (essentially on the US's terms). Quite a remarkable thing to say in 1902, at the height of Britain's hegemony.
Most of the book is about how American culture, products and influence is spreading across the entire globe. A few comments caught my special interest. The first is this statement:
In the Twentieth Century there seems to be ample ground for believing that the Americans will distance us in science more decisively than in almost any other department of human activity. The reason for this lies, not only in the genius of the people, but because of the provision made for scientific research by the munificence of American millionaires is infinitely in excess of anything that is provides in the British Empire.
The second point was this:
Our patent laws, instead of encouraging invention on the part of those who have brains but no money, absolutely handicap the poor man, and leave him helpless to profit by his own inventions.In other words, the policy agenda is funding of basic research and patent reform. Sound familiar?
. . .
The American patent law secures a patentee protection for seventeen years for a total cost of ₤8. To secure a patent for fourteen years in this country requires an expenditure of ₤99. The American Patent Office makes a fairly thorough examination of a patent, and, if required, the applicant is assisted to put his application into proper shape. With this stimulus to invention, it is not surprising that the inventive genius of the American has outstripped that of the Old World. Fortunately this can be remedies, for our Patent Office is one of those institutions which can be Americanised with the greatest ease.
Two other quick points. Stead makes much of the American educational system as a source of our success. That too sounds familiar. But he also points out this factor:
Not only do the Americans equip all their universities with magnificent apparatus and adequate endowment, but they send their ablest student abroad to study with the best experts in every branch of science. They tap the brains of the world, and keep themselves fully abreast of the latest results of modern research.
That ability to absorb information and knowledge from where ever it may be found is something that has been lacking at some times in our recent past. The not-invented-here syndrome and the belief that we were the pinnacle of knowledge have been all too familiar as well.
Happily the US innovation system as currently evolving is embracing the open innovation process - restoring that ability to "tap into the brains of the world." Unhappily, travel restrictions and immigration policies are making it more difficult. One step forward, one step back.
Some things never change.
Posted by Ken Jarboe at November 16, 2007 8:17 AM
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