[citation][nom]SAL-e[/nom]Second, Saying that MONOPOLIES promote innovation is like saying that "Credit promotes wealth." Credit only allows you to spend money now, that might be earned later and you pay dear price in the form of interest for that "convenience". So my questions are: What is 'the interest' we pay for using the patent system and is it worthed at all?[/citation]
I don't think the parallels hold between credit and monopolies, but that doesn't matter because patents are not monopolies. In the US, they are valid for only 20 years at the expiration of which time they may be extended at the discretion of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Besides, they may also be sold or the rights to them leased. I would hardly call these conditions a "monopoly".