But more fundamental inventions are threatening to these companies as they must often change their marketing channels, find different suppliers, and develop different cost and profitability structures. Thus, entrenched companies generally prefer a weaker patent system. Getting an invention accepted in the marketplace is expensive and risky. As a result, the entrenched companies with major marketing and financial resources often wait for others to take the risk of introducing new technologies. Generally, big companies don't introduce their own versions of innovations until they are proven successful in the marketplace by others.
Entrenched interests gain strength over time.
However, our constitutional democracy institutionalizes the ability of those out of power to challenge entrenched interests especially when they get too strong and arrogant. The patent system also institutionalizes the ability to challenge entrenched technology and businesses Most of the lobbying wars in Washington today are fought by vested interests trying to bend the laws are in their favor and discourage potential threats. The members of both commissions were primarily CEO's and other representatives of Fortune 500 companies or the law firms that represent these companies. The commissions consisted largely of companies who had more to lose then gain from a strong patent system and their law firms. Both commissions made recommendations which would weaken the patent system.