If there is prior art, no one can make a patent on it. So, if the government wants anyone to be able to build it, all they need to do is release it in the public domain
You are correct, but Prior Art is an issue for the courts, and usually takes a fuckton of money and even then, with the kiked judiciary, nothing is certain.
The patent rush from 2000 to 2010 or so was to add "on a computer" on everything.
Patent for how to organize files "on a computer" - granted, even though decades of actual filing organization set the stage for how to set up the computers.
Patent for renaming a file "on a computer" etc
It is always much easier to be the first to file now, and deal with any prior art cases after getting the patent. Losing a patent to prior art is way cheaper than losing to another company and then fighting with a court to accept that prior art exists.
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