In his Autobiography Benjamin Franklin describes his invention of an efficient stove. He declined the chance to patent it and gain huge profits because:

... as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously.

_{(cf. Genomic Bookshelves (2001-01-27), Public Domain (2003-02-13), Antient Commons (2003-11-03), Intellectual Heirs (2005-05-27), ...)}

(correlates: MacaulayOnCopyright, MysteryPop, Franklin's Virtues, ...)