Tesla Opens Up Its Portfolio of Patents for All to Use Free

It's Christmas in June for automakers after Elon Musk announced Tesla would open up its portfolio of patents to any competitor wanting to employ its trademark technology. In the near-unprecedented move, Tesla promised to not initiate lawsuits to those who use the knowledge in good faith. Musk justified his reasoning, explaining the company was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport" and that intellectual property restrictions ran counter to that. The move could see electronic vehicles become more mainstream. Of the 15.6 million vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2013, less than 1% were electric.