The Innovation Show The Legal Boundaries of User Innovation and Patents with Prof. Andrew Torrance
Mar 29, 2025
Prof. Andrew W. Torrance, a distinguished law professor from the University of Kansas and visiting scholar at MIT, dives into the legal landscape of user innovation and patents. He discusses the balance between open and closed inventions and the ethical dilemmas surrounding experimental treatments. The conversation brings to light the complex responsibilities innovators face when selling products, as well as the critical relationship between public trust and misinformation in healthcare. Torrance also emphasizes the importance of thoughtful patent policies to encourage innovation.
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Freedom of Innovation
- Inventing and personal use are generally legal, unless specifically prohibited.
- Sharing information is legal, but giving inventions to friends creates some liability.
Sharing with Friends
- Share inventions cautiously with friends, as it can lead to some liability for damages.
- Transfer responsibility by providing information and letting friends use inventions of their own accord.
Selling and Regulation
- Selling triggers government oversight, especially across state lines (interstate commerce).
- Federal agencies like the FDA have jurisdiction once sales occur, regulating commerce.
