> I don't understand why we can't just make patents non transferable.
Because inventors want to invent things, not prosecute patents, and making patents transferrable allows them to make money from inventions without having to accept any of the headache of patent defense, which is a distraction even when (as you will practically need to) you hire counsel to do the actual legal work.
Because inventors want to invent things, not prosecute patents, and making patents transferrable allows them to make money from inventions without having to accept any of the headache of patent defense, which is a distraction even when (as you will practically need to) you hire counsel to do the actual legal work.