Who laid the foundation for the modern patent system?

The foundation for the modern patent system is largely attributed to the Venetian Patent Statute of 1474, which established the principle of granting exclusive rights to inventors for their inventions. This was further developed in the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly in England with the Statute of Monopolies in 1624 and later in the United States with the Patent Act of 1790. These legal frameworks emphasized the importance of encouraging innovation by protecting inventors' rights, laying the groundwork for contemporary patent laws worldwide.