The Bridge-Builder (Dad’s Story)
 Story told by father
Master Registry #10 | Patent Philosophy, Legacy
Setting: Story told by father
“My dad referenced a story of a young man hiking a harrowing trail who came to a difficult stream to cross, with an old man just emerging from swimming across to the other side, who then started building a bridge back the way he had just come, over the river toward the young man.
The young man jumped in and swam through the strong currents to the other side and told the old man he didn’t need any help and asked the old man if he was going the same direction as he to get to the same destination, and when the old man replied yes that he had the same destination goal as the young man, the young man asked him ’then why are you bothering to build a bridge back the way you came? I’m already over here.'
The old man replied ‘yes, you are strong enough to make it on your own, for now. But behind you, there is someone even younger that doesn’t have your strength or experience yet, and I’m building this bridge for them.’”
Key Lesson: Build for those who follow. Every patent is a bridge.
Best Used For: Patent philosophy, why freely licensed, legacy thinking
Reference: Dad’s recording timestamps: 1:16:34–1:19:04