Unless one has the resources to have a patent firm check for previous patents and get your brainchild patented, and presented to potential manufacturers or investors, one has little chance of moving forward with his creation.

I worked with a research group for a major company, every little idea we had was checked for patentability.
Not easy for an individual unless he HAS a private business on which to base his creations.

Gnu, recently there was some hollering in the media about the government giving money to Petrobras. Under Bush, a loan was given through the Brazilian government, the purpose being to encourage purchases of American equipment for their enterprises, and as you say, influence policies.