SpaceX holds nearly zero patents—an incredible fact considering the breadth of technology the corporate behemoth has produced since just 2002. This is especially peculiar given its sister company, Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), had pumped application after application through the PTO since its founding until 2014 when it released several patents to the public. Why, then, would […]
Season 11 of the X-Files is coming to FOX this January 2018, which means more mystery, unexplained phenomena, and UFOs. In honor of Season 11, let’s take a look at one commonly reported UFO – the “flying saucer.” The term flying saucer and “flying disc” were popularized in the twentieth century and are now part […]
In late 2016, retailer Costco introduced an affordable high quality tour type golf ball under its Kirkland Signature brand. Priced at $29.99 for two-dozen golf balls, the Costco golf ball quickly sold out having grown a cult following. The popularity of the Costco golf ball caught the attention of ACUSHNET, the company that makes the […]
On December 6, 2016, in a unanimous opinion the U.S. Supreme Court threw out a lower court’s $399 million judgment against Samsung for violating Apple’s design patents, which had awarded Apple damages based on the profits Samsung made in regard to its infringing device as a whole. The Supreme Court has changed this calculation of […]
Recently, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) approved the names of the four new elements 113, 115, 117, and 118: Nihonium (Nh), Moscovium (Mc), Tennessine (Ts), and Oganesson (Og). These elements are not found in nature. Each of these elements was created in a lab by blasting beams of heavy nuclei at […]
Now that the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are behind us we can look forward to the 2020 Summer Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo, Japan. In fact, it appears that that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already begun looking ahead to the 2020 Summer Games as well. From […]
Through its Technology Transfer Program, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has made its technology available “to promote the commercialization and public availability of Federally-owned inventions to benefit the national economy and the U.S. Public.” See http://technology.nasa.gov/startup The NASA patent portfolio is available online at http://technology.nasa.gov/patents Categories of inventions include: -Aeronautics -Communications -Electrical/Electronics -Environment -Health, Medicine, […]
Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump was issued a U.S. Trademark Registration for the slogan “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” on July 14, 2015, Reg. No. 4,773,272 in connection with “Political action committee services, namely, promoting public awareness of political issues” in International Class 035 and “Fundraising in the field of politics” in International Class 036. We […]
Even though baseball gloves were being produced in the 19th Century, what many regard as the forerunner to the modern glove was patented in 1922 by William (“Bill”) L. Doak (U.S. Patent No. 1,426,824). Mr. Doak’s glove incorporated “a plurality of strands” between the thumb and index finger to form a pocket to catch and […]
Smart companies protect their concepts and designs with robust portfolios that include design and utility patents. Most companies protect the ornamental appearances of functional items via Design Patents and functional qualities via Utility Patents. Sometimes, however, a good collection of design patents can be a powerful mechanism to protect concepts and designs that surround a […]