The patent process is slow but not a fixed time. It's variable.
If the variability in time-to-patent exceeds the delta between independent inventions you no longer have a fair system.
At best you're randomly rewarding the patent to one lucky inventor. At worst you're rewarding it to the one who is best able to game the patent system, encouraging corruption throughout.
If the variability in time-to-patent exceeds the delta between independent inventions you no longer have a fair system.
At best you're randomly rewarding the patent to one lucky inventor. At worst you're rewarding it to the one who is best able to game the patent system, encouraging corruption throughout.