Patents

The Global History of Patents

The Global History of Patents

Patents have long held a distinction in human history, much further back than most realize. Like many aspects of life, it started with our most primal necessity: food. Robin Jacob, a British intellectual property expert, believes the earliest concept of a patent was in 600 BC. A chef had created “some kind of newfangled loaf …

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Copyright, Patent, and Trademark: What’s the Difference?

Copyright, Patent, and Trademark: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve ever used the terms patent, copyright, and trademark interchangeably, you’re not alone. The difference between the three can sometimes feel negligible at best. Instead of mistaking definitions, however, here’s a brief overview of each term and how they apply to the confusing world of intellectual property. NOTE: While this is a general guide …

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Inventions That Are (Surprisingly) Not Patented

Inventions That Are (Surprisingly) Not Patented

If you ever invent something original and useful, one of the first things you’ll hear is “make sure you get it patented!” It seems like solid advice- after all, a patent gives you the right to stop others from making, selling or using your idea without permission. But there are plenty of ideas, products, and …

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A Brief History of Patents

A Brief History of Patents

Patents provide important protection to a successful idea, but few people know how complicated the process of obtaining one can be. The US patent system has a long and complicated history. Or at least it was a complicated, until now, thanks to our crash course in the history of patents in the United States. Before …

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Celebrating Black History Month: Contemporary Inventors

Celebrating Black History Month: Contemporary Inventors

As the celebration of Black History Month is coming to a close, we wanted to place the spotlight on three contemporary African American inventors whose inventions have left their mark on society. While we already featured famous historic African American inventors in our first installment, today we’re focusing on Lonnie G. Johnson, Dr. Patricia Bath …

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These Famous Idea People Failed Their Way Forward

These Famous Idea People Failed Their Way Forward

  In Monday’s blog, we introduced the idea of failing your way forward. We showed you how failure isn’t the end. In fact, failure is just the beginning. After sharing our founder and CEO George Davison’s story of failing forward, we were intrigued and did some investigating of our own to uncover other prominent inventors …

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Are Patents That Important?

Are Patents That Important?

As the holiday season is upon us, we can’t help but think of all the innovative and creative minds that are behind those products that are flying off the store shelves as people continue to cross items off of their holiday wish lists. So often, inventors with big ideas get hung up on the need …

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Thanksgiving Inventions you Never Knew Existed

Thanksgiving Inventions you Never Knew Existed

Tomorrow, people all over the United States will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day! In the spirit of giving, we thought that we’d share with you three Thanksgiving inventions! Ideas come in all shapes and sizes and work to solve a myriad of problems. These three Thanksgiving invention patents were created to solve holiday problems that you …

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Who’s Lowell Wood and Why Do We Care?

Who’s Lowell Wood and Why Do We Care?

Year after year, America continues to be the most innovative, inventing nation in the entire world. When we think of famous American inventors, more times than not, Thomas Edison’s name will likely be rambled off, among many other inventors. This comes as no surprise, given the fact that he’s invented some of the most prolific …

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Name that Invention!

Name that Invention!

During a tour of Inventionland, the facility that does design work for Davison and Davison’s clients, excited visitors end their experience with a visual look at what Davison considers one of the last steps in the inventing process- filing a patent application. A long, white hallway becomes a conversation piece as visitors take a closer …

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