 Thomas Edison absolutely did not invent the light bulb. Ben Franklin didn't really discover electricity with a kite, and the Wright brothers didn't invent the airplane. The fact is, most inventors, especially the great ones, know how to build on what's come before. Innovators like Edison, Franklin, and the Wright brothers added the finishing touches after a long line of contributions from many other people. There's actually a structure that helps them do it, the patent system. A patent is basically an official stamp of approval from the government that says you came up with an idea. Because of patents, an inventor can openly talk about their idea while still having it protected. By making it safer to share ideas, patents can lead to new inventions that change our lives. IBM received more than 9,000 patents in 2017, by far the most ever in one year by any company, and they've led the U.S. in patents for 25 straight years. So what did they patent in 2017? Well, do you ever worry that there are certain hazards a self-driving car just can't handle? One of IBM's latest ideas constantly evaluates whether the self-driving vehicle or human driver is better suited to drive in a given situation. It could then automatically turn control over to the human driver, helping prevent accidents. What about the hazards we face online? One of IBM's newest patented AI technologies helps prepare for those threats by diverting hackers' attention away from you. That's not the only way that IBM is working to help AI serve us better. In fact, over the last six years, IBM received more than 5,000 patents in AI and cognitive computing. These advances are made possible with patents because patents make it safe for inventors to collaborate. That's how companies like IBM can take advanced technologies and turn them into something that can improve our everyday lives. Share this video if you think more people should know about the power of patents.