Tesla continues to break away from the norm and encourage innovation within itself and others. The carmaker has made a decision unprecedented in the technology industry and could mean a flourish of innovation.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Inc., announced on Thursday that his company will allow others to use its patented technology without any consequences. According to the Huffington Post, Musk could have decided to do this in an attempt to foster greater interest for electric car manufacturing and increase innovation within the industry.

Previously, Tesla had protected its inventions when the company had begun to take off. Musk feared that large automakers would consume the company without such protections; however, the Huffington Post reported that large carmakers have placed very little interest in electric car manufacturing and thus prove no threat to the company. Musk, now secure in his position, probably sees the opportunity for others to use Tesla technology to expand the electric car industry.

"If we clear a path to the creation of electric vehicles but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal," Musk wrote in a blog post. "Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology."

Some speculate that Musk's move comes as a way of turning Tesla into the base of the electric car industry. Carter Driscoll, a senior tech analyst at MLV & Co. investment bank, told the Huffington Post Tesla's actions could be encouraging other manufacturers to develop electric cars compatible with Tesla's battery charging stations.

"On the charging side, there is no standard," he told the HuffPost over the phone. "This is [Tesla] trying to standardize the technology they've created."

However, Forbes reported that Tesla's decision could also mark a different switch. The company could make a deal with German automaker BMW in the near future. According to Forbes, BMW and Tesla representatives met on Friday to discuss a potential collaboration for the creation of electric vehicles but did not release any details.

BMW has recently released an electric car, the i3 city car, and will be releasing shortly the electric supercar i8. Forbes argued that, in a partnership, BMW may be able to share its carbon fiber technology as well as its production expertise with Tesla. This would allow Tesla to continue growing and expanding the electric car market further.