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10.11 Fitting Patents into a Dense IP Space
So here are two key points about obviousness relating to the complexity of an
invention:
Simple ≠ obvious
Complex ≠ nonobvious
Many great inventions are simple and appear obvious in hindsight. Most valu-
able inventions aren’t Rube Goldberg contraptions. Good innovators know this
and do not quench their “simple” innovations; in fact, they actively pursue such
innovations. A smart technology business knows this as well and thinks long
and hard before deciding not to patent any innovations that it thinks might be
“obvious” merely because they are “simple.”
10.11 FITTING PATENTS INTO
A DENSE IP SPACE ...