In the seventy years since von Neumann effectively placed his "Draft Report" on the EDVAC into the public domain, the trend for computers has been, with a few notable exceptions, toward a more proprietary approach. In 2011 a milestone was reached: Apple and Google spent more on lawsuits and payments involving patents than they did on research and development of new products.64
In the decades following John von Neumann's significant contribution with his "Draft Report" on the EDVAC, the computing landscape has shifted increasingly towards proprietary practices. This contrasts sharply with the earlier days of open collaboration and sharing in the tech community. The transition towards protecting intellectual property has implications for innovation and accessibility in the field.
A striking illustration of this trend occurred in 2011, when it was reported that tech giants Apple and Google prioritized spending on legal battles over patent disputes rather than investing in research and development. This shift raises concerns about the prioritization of profitability and protectionism over creative advancements and collaboration in technology.
