Understanding the Concept of Offensively Using Patents

Before delving into the specifics of OpenAI's pledge, it's essential to comprehend what it means to use patents offensively. In the context of intellectual property, a patent is a legal right granted to an inventor that gives them exclusive rights to make, use, and sell an invention for a certain period. When a company uses a patent offensively, it means they use it to prevent others from using the same technology or to extract royalties from competitors who are using similar innovations.