The Democratization of Invention: Patents and Copyrights in American Economic Development, 1790-1920An Examination of the evolution and impact of American intellectual property rights during the 'long nineteenth century, ' this book compares the American system to developments in the more oligarchic societies of France and Britain. The United States created the first modern patent system and its policies were the most liberal in the world toward inventors. Individuals who did not have the resources to directly exploit their inventions benefited