You might not invent the improved widget but I would. Essentially all patents are improvements.

Berkeley invents CRISPR. Broad Institute invents improved CRISPR.

In a parallel universe, does John Galt invent CRISPR? Let's see. He'd have to spend millions on development and then wouldn't be able to recoup that because anyone could copy it. So no, Galt doesn't do this. He's free to do this but there's no incentive for him to do it.

Galt's world seems more like:

  From each according to their ability
  To each according to their need