Elon Musk, founder of Tesla Motors and SpaceX, has open-sourced all of Tesla Motor’s patents. This means a lot to other manufacturers who want to get in on electric vehicle development. And the less we rely on limited fossil-fuel transit, the better for everybody and everything. Compare this to other technology leaders of today such as Apple, Google, Microsoft and Samsung who sue each other for millions or even billions of dollars, and spend millions to purchase smaller companies over patent infringement.

What many people who do not know, if they don’t know who he is, is that Nicola Tesla, Mr Musk’s inspiration and namesake of the company (and also of a 1980’s hair band), also let his patents be used freely. Although he was also taken advantage of, he let others use many of his ideas for the common good.

The 21st century may belong to Nicola Tesla. Read about The Oatmeal‘s campaign to buy Tesla’s Wardenclyffe property and appeal to Elon Musk to fund museum construction. Read the Oatmeal’s comic on Nicola Tesla here.

Let’s only hope nobody finds his Death Ray research…