The hashgraph algorithm is protected by patents. The patents are a tool designed to inhibit forking and the associated instability and loss of network effects. The absence of enterprise-grade applications running on the public networks today is partly due to the possibility of those networks splitting into competing networks and cryptocurrencies. This represents risk to anyone considering building mission critical applications on those networks. The patents will allow Hedera to make a commitment to such enterprises that we will never authorize a fork.