tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58586942090420832842024-03-18T10:46:10.774-05:00The Patent DispatchAn Intellectual Property Playground: thoughts on IP from Fondren Library's PTRCKelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.comBlogger1030125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-73334720705564714832024-03-18T10:45:00.000-05:002024-03-18T10:45:39.707-05:00Triple Dog IP Dare<p>You know, I spend a lot of time thinking about IP, even outside working hours. It's a side effect of not only my position, but this blog. Because I've made a point to investigate aspects of IP that are more likely to apply to an average person's life, or perhaps spark some interest in a person who isn't concerned with the technical side of things, I now find that I can't stop myself from considering IP. After all, who knows when I might be able to pick up a topic that will make for a good blog post, or perhaps lead to some exciting search possibilities?</p><p>Unfortunately, that means a lot of people around me have to think about IP more than they might like, too. </p><p>It's a hazard of the occupation, and I'm sure it's not unique to this one, either. </p><p>Recently, it was during one of the involuntary, impromptu, work-unrelated IP moments that I had a small, yet terrifying epiphany.</p><p>IP is everywhere and concerns everything in our lives. It can be applied to everything. You cannot escape the presence of IP!<br /></p><p>Try me, I dare you. You name it in a comment, and I'll show you some relevant IP. In fact, I triple dog dare you. There's no going back from that.<br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-45149165598710942532024-03-12T14:15:00.004-05:002024-03-12T14:15:46.440-05:00Spring Snow Machines<p>It's spring break, and many Americans enjoy spring skiing. Yet, thanks to climate change (or even uncooperative weather), sometimes there isn't enough snow on the slopes.</p><p>What happens in those cases?</p><p>We make snow!</p><p>Well, the ski slope managers do, not us. And they use machines to do it, because most of us do not have god-level powers. </p><p>Let's check out how the technology has evolved over the decades. We're focused those that create a snow similar to actual snowfall, not on those that rely on ice, creating snow more suitable for a snow cone than skiing (I'm looking at you, <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:12a5bea4-9022-3b4e-9aed-71f2331c5e83" target="_blank">US 9,909,796</a>). </p><p>The first examples I found (US patents only) were patented in the 1950s. <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:fcec1376-e687-3e57-83b4-556240d7c3ab" target="_blank">US 2,676,471</a>, granted in 1954, claimed to make sufficient quantities for ski trails and other winter sports. The Connecticut-based inventor was potentially motivated by distressing ski season in 1948, '49, and '50, all cited in the patent. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqsqxDCyD0fUpg-PXxQL5Q_JzGy0sqiWH6wGrkZECxkHnzUTWm-BgzcFjfR7p9Jn82NOl_zLNH44TlIpyIoAhmQTdh2PpRx8KPeXLfxbfTg5OEOkM4GkJQmbQNFcPmQXVvDGRNhYAzptG3nk3KRdOiwM4boMVaudJlAnCvLoQB8yK4-KypaBTYn7pA5d4/s5712/Cropped%20pages%20from%20US-2676471-A_I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5712" data-original-width="3612" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqsqxDCyD0fUpg-PXxQL5Q_JzGy0sqiWH6wGrkZECxkHnzUTWm-BgzcFjfR7p9Jn82NOl_zLNH44TlIpyIoAhmQTdh2PpRx8KPeXLfxbfTg5OEOkM4GkJQmbQNFcPmQXVvDGRNhYAzptG3nk3KRdOiwM4boMVaudJlAnCvLoQB8yK4-KypaBTYn7pA5d4/s320/Cropped%20pages%20from%20US-2676471-A_I.jpg" width="202" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah, the days of patent figures that were more artistic than technical</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:cf3602df-1cdb-3eeb-9656-c1c37c282bec" target="_blank">US 3,838,815</a> of 1974 innovated a machine that did not require compressed air, considerably minimizing the weight and energy usage of a snow machine. Therefore, snow making was more efficient, effective, and inexpensive. Probably a good thing all-around, since high use of energy and water really only makes the original problem--lack of precipitation--worse. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-CGbC3sCw3Ll1jY8P6byuaQJk7vi8xz2jA2CGiQwIV1niBwgQDStUUSRBMWRI7rrcW0TSTF_ziYXNy0XhYCXjJ9frj-NaZhQ81tD5hdWOZAt75GvnHE3i_YFqGvEC7-ekgORyENUFw-fAnJydCh_MeydxqwiU4P8ZnQF8ERU-C1rPD8psf5dQSnTB-7f/s4821/Cropped%20pages%20from%20US_3838815_A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4821" data-original-width="4447" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-CGbC3sCw3Ll1jY8P6byuaQJk7vi8xz2jA2CGiQwIV1niBwgQDStUUSRBMWRI7rrcW0TSTF_ziYXNy0XhYCXjJ9frj-NaZhQ81tD5hdWOZAt75GvnHE3i_YFqGvEC7-ekgORyENUFw-fAnJydCh_MeydxqwiU4P8ZnQF8ERU-C1rPD8psf5dQSnTB-7f/s320/Cropped%20pages%20from%20US_3838815_A.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looks like plumbing to me<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>By 1992, inventors were more interested in improving side effects, as snow machinery had sufficiently advanced beyond efficiency concerns. <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:c6ea6fad-d186-3635-8625-66eabb53eb12" target="_blank">US 5,167,367</a> is for a ducted-fan snow making apparatus that features a reduced noise level. Various contemporary patented machines had noise levels in the 70-100 decibel range, depending on whether they were ducted-fan or compressed air models. Depending on settings and distance from the fan, this model claims to max out at 82 decibels. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKy7ejsKvCXE0L3n_x1eTHmK0JsidZtZkIaCcyDUVCka4Rafo2N7ddnWQn4GzIYkj8hbDDcD1XljdEtNnPzq7lnd1kZE27uNICCBKdMCWQuqGEUXy-E_YaMChfcElmRujPQ4TAQIQ2D5dHvhYzhWi5XWkRkCzkQWdXpO9fQ6ZULij_FFbA0ft6HZLOaHLG/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-5167367-A_I.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKy7ejsKvCXE0L3n_x1eTHmK0JsidZtZkIaCcyDUVCka4Rafo2N7ddnWQn4GzIYkj8hbDDcD1XljdEtNnPzq7lnd1kZE27uNICCBKdMCWQuqGEUXy-E_YaMChfcElmRujPQ4TAQIQ2D5dHvhYzhWi5XWkRkCzkQWdXpO9fQ6ZULij_FFbA0ft6HZLOaHLG/s320/Pages%20from%20US-5167367-A_I.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Besides, this thing just looks kinda cool<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>After another decade or so, snow makers were turning into entire plants. Inventors were automating their control, such as 2015's <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:3e9ac834-d314-3c17-838a-d47c93f829f4" target="_blank">US 9,200,825</a>: Control system for an artificial snow making plant. The system is intended for a plant that has multiple snow making apparatuses across ski runs. It's mostly for programming and communications technology, rather than snow making, but still belongs here since one little snow machine can't fix an entire broken climate! <br /></p><p>Finally, within the last couple years, inventors were completely automating the process and freeing it from fixed electrical infrastructures. <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:0ba86c05-eaa1-3b9c-9eaf-6f5c445db80f" target="_blank">US 11,466,915</a> can run on battery power, but also designed to use extant electrical systems. It's also compatible with wireless systems. Versatility is now key, since power is expensive and it's time to start thinking about energy expenditures when working against climate change. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNtragcZjMEIWUl9pmleoxmRnenlj_QPffZH23235xBHJaAVsSKBtm0VRiBBjlorf7B5YEmh86Qj5ZJTr5b8cqZeDOxCyYGnnzxSvseEkoAi5wA3C2TXiuBTirPxkHiLujbqnsBb5J2cmKnHtvv9Bw4Mzb58bRHrS3vDPLC3o7cmMQ_ejgRqXQWiihOM9/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-11466915-B2_I.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNtragcZjMEIWUl9pmleoxmRnenlj_QPffZH23235xBHJaAVsSKBtm0VRiBBjlorf7B5YEmh86Qj5ZJTr5b8cqZeDOxCyYGnnzxSvseEkoAi5wA3C2TXiuBTirPxkHiLujbqnsBb5J2cmKnHtvv9Bw4Mzb58bRHrS3vDPLC3o7cmMQ_ejgRqXQWiihOM9/s320/Pages%20from%20US-11466915-B2_I.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Technology to the ski slope rescue!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Another interesting related patent, albeit kind of gross sounding in my opinion, is this artificial snow and artificial ski areas invention, <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:dcfd19a6-654e-3be6-a387-03f93f1ad014" target="_blank">US 7,998,566</a>. It relies on snow "composed of a solid lubricant compounds and resin grains" and the solid lubricant compound consists of ingredients like paraffin, polyethylene ester, polypropylene ester, polyurethane grains, and/or talcum powder. For those of you who did not grow up in a petrochemicals and plastics family, that means this snow is made from plastic and oil-based granules. It sounds <i>so slimy</i> and completely unlike snow. But it doesn't require water or cooling agents! And it isn't restricted to appropriate seasons or temperatures! (Puke emoji) <br /></p><p></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-48132190120120129572024-03-05T15:36:00.000-06:002024-03-05T15:36:06.383-06:00Cheese Doodle Day! <p>As it is evidently Cheese Doodle Day today (March 5th), a post about some cheese doodle/curl IP seems appropriate. This could be an easy, minimally-researched post, too, if I relied upon Cheetos. But I won't cheet (ha, ha) you like that. I'll give you a fully-researched product!</p><p>However, I want to first acknowledge at least one Cheetos trademark, because it would be remiss of me to completely skip the most famous of cheesy puff snacks. Here's one of the trademarks for the illustrated form of the name Cheetos, owned by <a href="https://ricepatinfo.blogspot.com/2024/02/potato-chip-patents.html" target="_blank">Frito-Lay</a>, registration no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=76386028&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">2680627</a>. Did you know that name was first used in <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=752220&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=US_REGISTRATION_NO&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">commerce</a> in 1948? <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblhD828wuyydQ-Soeawv1UavrxGpijsZ0Y26TledtiDeshai0G2grpJ465jde4m3x3jr4AmF3aS0TOmP6hc7XrQTellbTEf6h9du4Hc8uBzSadsZVYnmDPIknFNOuGK2prSSKmXnQjB9lT88Hu1-sXjEaucm1yslVRnoqOdLHNbFIaDbu5XcPmKHSb1Ob/s320/Cheetos%20logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="320" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblhD828wuyydQ-Soeawv1UavrxGpijsZ0Y26TledtiDeshai0G2grpJ465jde4m3x3jr4AmF3aS0TOmP6hc7XrQTellbTEf6h9du4Hc8uBzSadsZVYnmDPIknFNOuGK2prSSKmXnQjB9lT88Hu1-sXjEaucm1yslVRnoqOdLHNbFIaDbu5XcPmKHSb1Ob/s1600/Cheetos%20logo.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm, delicious corn product coated in orange powdered cheese product<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Obviously there are many more cheese curls on the market, varying in quality and deliciousness. One such example are the Bon Ton Cheese Curlies, word mark, registration no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=74506358&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">1955350</a>. I don't know this brand, but they are one of the first results when you search the USPTO's database for cheese curls.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUYyR2VKN-E6AGGytoJ_Sa-g5rjEwVwq7toOYXIafzW5FvLAREOaXVtcw_QM0LG6mc_Ky5-iQxTS22QwgDU0NZRt4Re3F-qjvE59jnnBT6A764r6n89-Xa3-gWNPNwRAc7F0B3qtxcohbyjQEfIYdLTjPxFYjmKg0AhpOwJQtL2eyWEE7eZ4OwubMJqdD/s1290/Bon%20Ton%20new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="852" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUYyR2VKN-E6AGGytoJ_Sa-g5rjEwVwq7toOYXIafzW5FvLAREOaXVtcw_QM0LG6mc_Ky5-iQxTS22QwgDU0NZRt4Re3F-qjvE59jnnBT6A764r6n89-Xa3-gWNPNwRAc7F0B3qtxcohbyjQEfIYdLTjPxFYjmKg0AhpOwJQtL2eyWEE7eZ4OwubMJqdD/s320/Bon%20Ton%20new.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please note this product's <i>very</i> distinct monkey mascot <i>clearly </i>not based on another cheesy snack<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>But don't forget your pseudo marks! Cheez Doodles, word mark, registration no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=72009551&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">644839</a>, very specifically lists cheese flavored corn curls as its associated good, whereas Bon Ton Cheese Curlies are for the broader corn based snack foods, and Cheetos are for the slightly more detailed corn-based snack foods, namely, puffed corn snacks. It's interesting those two don't mention cheese; perhaps it is to allow some wiggle room for additional flavoring options. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2iCC6l5eEC15aUjKOAkdDeACiPW5tQaGGLXCQyt2urts1M4CIT2OcVSoav8HrcMVOkVIgUIaYxzeNAG4G-Le3R5PofqMDYLWotpIOslaMQhLx0jlGljL3H2xBVxlZ-blPCn_cIwaGFZ3VLG4YJxtEzw6I2sU-mQUY7IF4f1A_lERs_5L-YtSyvFnqDUA/s3227/Cheep%20Cheez%20Doodles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3227" data-original-width="1709" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2iCC6l5eEC15aUjKOAkdDeACiPW5tQaGGLXCQyt2urts1M4CIT2OcVSoav8HrcMVOkVIgUIaYxzeNAG4G-Le3R5PofqMDYLWotpIOslaMQhLx0jlGljL3H2xBVxlZ-blPCn_cIwaGFZ3VLG4YJxtEzw6I2sU-mQUY7IF4f1A_lERs_5L-YtSyvFnqDUA/s320/Cheep%20Cheez%20Doodles.jpg" width="169" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">25 cents?! These must be a cheeper (ha, ha, sorry) and lower quality variety<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>What about other forms of IP? I bet there are many copyrights for packaging design. After all, that can fall under the purview of copyright rather than trademark or design patents. </p><p>Nonetheless, I think patents would be more interesting. We got to look at some packaging above in the format of specimens, and the copyright registration database doesn't come with images or examples. Also, it sounds like it might be a challenge to search for cheese curl technology without relying on a brand name, and if anyone loves a challenging search, it's a librarian. </p><p>In case you're curious, my search query in Patent Public Search was (chee$2 <em>adj</em> (curl <em>OR</em> doodle <em>or</em> snack <em>or</em> p$2ff?) <em>and</em> corn) <em>not</em> cheek?. Fairly successful, not perfect. The best results are...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewx_uJAsl1S0EpOjreoc6-sI8E6-RopRZShlMObMARANsRINl76HaWm0JXydk40b-7SMvJUbdkxV4UkCsl6GeIKpGRqL7-Xypuw-TSAv1kVkTXtAX3Zl9w9T8XUj_gfgsOaGEmv1WgYAbWVls4hJEhzniL0clrH8LTqjNjGWCNQRUzmkylBPqY1DXfN8b/s5100/Pages%20from%20US-4517204-low%20calorie.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="5100" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewx_uJAsl1S0EpOjreoc6-sI8E6-RopRZShlMObMARANsRINl76HaWm0JXydk40b-7SMvJUbdkxV4UkCsl6GeIKpGRqL7-Xypuw-TSAv1kVkTXtAX3Zl9w9T8XUj_gfgsOaGEmv1WgYAbWVls4hJEhzniL0clrH8LTqjNjGWCNQRUzmkylBPqY1DXfN8b/s320/Pages%20from%20US-4517204-low%20calorie.pdf.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:0cd5ac15-1223-31b9-bff9-41ae0d3f2d63" target="_blank">4,517,204</a>: Reduced calorie puffed snack food products<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyvoNcHJR19CvoYJzlX_PDwaD4rtsLW2bP-NoHdrqVL9EEYEojTR2sZR-Yphts6cSRHZ3MMANXMOUmgrRvVtFW6Jsc9OV1hxqg0YQ-xPmyCgy6fVCs78BxWLiEexJbH0bk-O1kDfpMgenfMGW2CjFZVFlWswkiptPDcfSZ5EJqHuoFDt4zieDyAIlR8gU/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-11589595-cheese%20topping%20for%20baked%20snacks.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyvoNcHJR19CvoYJzlX_PDwaD4rtsLW2bP-NoHdrqVL9EEYEojTR2sZR-Yphts6cSRHZ3MMANXMOUmgrRvVtFW6Jsc9OV1hxqg0YQ-xPmyCgy6fVCs78BxWLiEexJbH0bk-O1kDfpMgenfMGW2CjFZVFlWswkiptPDcfSZ5EJqHuoFDt4zieDyAIlR8gU/s320/Pages%20from%20US-11589595-cheese%20topping%20for%20baked%20snacks.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:f153c6e1-02b5-3f44-b11b-6e7bdeea5d5f" target="_blank">11,589,595</a>: Cheese toppings for baked snacks suitable for prebake application<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaP2ohMeITqEripY-drZ28uQjgMrFayZPV89hBX8sO0l3hC9A5cckzcdIU18qo4aVCkxTQKEv0HxW2krWnH_kQKe_yyKy4lm3jIMt9vZqB1vrfpb1f2xuydsOr3LAq8Qaad8THK9828WRzCmMJ8CMxu_aAE2gmuUWpzm6aDFm-7YBHiuOe1SkwWFjTHpD/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-D609878-curved%20cracker.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaP2ohMeITqEripY-drZ28uQjgMrFayZPV89hBX8sO0l3hC9A5cckzcdIU18qo4aVCkxTQKEv0HxW2krWnH_kQKe_yyKy4lm3jIMt9vZqB1vrfpb1f2xuydsOr3LAq8Qaad8THK9828WRzCmMJ8CMxu_aAE2gmuUWpzm6aDFm-7YBHiuOe1SkwWFjTHpD/s320/Pages%20from%20US-D609878-curved%20cracker.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:12dccd06-1882-3f25-9525-194613e6f0e1" target="_blank">D609,878</a>: Curved cracker<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>None of them are quite perfect, like I said, but there's definitely one that might apply to a reduced calorie Cheeto, and the other two certainly cite cheese puffs or cheese doodles.</p><p>Hooray for cheesy snack IP!<br /></p><p>BONUS! <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:af3b656f-1457-3512-82a4-1374e36d2e00" target="_blank">Finger sheath patent</a>--which specifically calls out cheese puffs: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JxC6zLoQnhWNsZyk3_HRZC1ogHKRvEVdRWcL2jEvkiedf-LFOAee3b-z4xrhOz28Fm7f3HrYULUKgvLsVAZxd1g3bCjiPKh9TwBfzOn8d4u6DBCnVoU9tNt584IssfQuxGfAdCwgHloiPYsWfbUZkpFgsUghqIEpfFfRgpT5RAEUqXmR8-xIlx1HZT9g/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-9723879-Finger%20Sheath.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JxC6zLoQnhWNsZyk3_HRZC1ogHKRvEVdRWcL2jEvkiedf-LFOAee3b-z4xrhOz28Fm7f3HrYULUKgvLsVAZxd1g3bCjiPKh9TwBfzOn8d4u6DBCnVoU9tNt584IssfQuxGfAdCwgHloiPYsWfbUZkpFgsUghqIEpfFfRgpT5RAEUqXmR8-xIlx1HZT9g/s320/Pages%20from%20US-9723879-Finger%20Sheath.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><p></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-64009141189624083682024-02-27T10:22:00.004-06:002024-03-05T09:50:29.564-06:00A Squishy IP Reprise<p>Well, I somehow ended up with two Squishes in my office. One is a Squishmallow, and the other is a Squishable. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCxQPnrKl-K9LzMBJFT3uhcEHCEUi6DXFW9Q17njtkRS0HvbGukhroo-aogpuqKdzhH7YFCu_8V2LMCy9LaLp86VP81oaCPAb2dbMldCy57sH6iHdJ19-aLV6a4nU6df4PuZ7-GJF8sGWcg6rG86defmWUHmhl-Ao2OI2DWDvHhnWpBahHycuGqspSVbR/s4032/IMG_1688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCxQPnrKl-K9LzMBJFT3uhcEHCEUi6DXFW9Q17njtkRS0HvbGukhroo-aogpuqKdzhH7YFCu_8V2LMCy9LaLp86VP81oaCPAb2dbMldCy57sH6iHdJ19-aLV6a4nU6df4PuZ7-GJF8sGWcg6rG86defmWUHmhl-Ao2OI2DWDvHhnWpBahHycuGqspSVbR/s320/IMG_1688.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I cleared some space on a chair for them<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Also, when I said "somehow", I should clarify that I intentionally
purchased the pickle Squishmallow for my office, because clearly no
office is complete without a pickle plush. <br /></p><p>I think the best part is that the Squishable is actually the ~Mysterious Doctor Plague~ who had a featured trademark appearance in my <a href="https://ricepatinfo.blogspot.com/2023/10/different-squishes-squishmallows-vs.html" target="_blank">previous entry</a>. I received him as a gift for Valentine's Day, my husband completely unaware that my blog had focused on that particular bit of IP. (If you're wondering why I got a plague doctor Squishable for Valentine's Day, it's because St. Valentine is the patron saint of plagues, along with beekeeping and epilepsy. So he gave me a plague doctor, a bag of Bit o' Honey, and conceded that he couldn't figure anything out for epilepsy.) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEmp_sLCcTGgB5-pGuVpfy7Sm194cpyZFbRN3GG8vR27WPWoFnm6wXToHfbSs0EnV-Hodc6meIWsdaeDxR832Vuv2ZQq67BSEKwVA4x2VSpvY1vsBho3G_C29yvpErcrE9TtMI3nyLCj4nZN_CnEjPebVP0R8I2d7StWG0w6y-Rs2v55HKS1zrry2N7PP/s4032/IMG_1690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEmp_sLCcTGgB5-pGuVpfy7Sm194cpyZFbRN3GG8vR27WPWoFnm6wXToHfbSs0EnV-Hodc6meIWsdaeDxR832Vuv2ZQq67BSEKwVA4x2VSpvY1vsBho3G_C29yvpErcrE9TtMI3nyLCj4nZN_CnEjPebVP0R8I2d7StWG0w6y-Rs2v55HKS1zrry2N7PP/s320/IMG_1690.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegR1aM5w9CSRqs0pd8fwQ88CpBNMB3k4UfbW_trruiXky2X8J4VM5BlK1HXtrt3-feQ8b6m-Wmvh5OG47KdS-7R_J2mO87fs0qjiiiy7sKUbZj4hLwX445XvmxInqYN9HkUkYqTmjYj7aVHDIAGXdFvIEOjDSkywrRGeIKW1YezGUgyCSUhkJgP2ZHtbf/s4032/IMG_1691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegR1aM5w9CSRqs0pd8fwQ88CpBNMB3k4UfbW_trruiXky2X8J4VM5BlK1HXtrt3-feQ8b6m-Wmvh5OG47KdS-7R_J2mO87fs0qjiiiy7sKUbZj4hLwX445XvmxInqYN9HkUkYqTmjYj7aVHDIAGXdFvIEOjDSkywrRGeIKW1YezGUgyCSUhkJgP2ZHtbf/s320/IMG_1691.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squishily mysterious!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div>I was not incorrect about some of my suppositions when it came to differentiating the two. The Squishmallow is not as articulated, and has a more velvety texture than a fake fur, like the Doctor Plague. Otherwise, the best indicator might just be knowing your brands and checking those marks!<br /><p></p><p>Anyway, enjoy these close-up views of trademarks and their registration symbols, all from residents of my office. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdEWy6lNjw81BCzt90GjMgmNTykhFbTzhmg2Ly5LydxSSEl39w9ZTAWVvmXTeCMlAOU8rmjzYQq9NZNJLGFJafUVG2p_AtXGEXPdvS15SqgUmng5iK1qG9ZdNMV-gIFeDsKWHd1dl-VGrvhSKPBkZYrcSU0SMMXb2sXokIrFSs7mi9YRBLyn0rkCaufCV/s4032/IMG_1695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdEWy6lNjw81BCzt90GjMgmNTykhFbTzhmg2Ly5LydxSSEl39w9ZTAWVvmXTeCMlAOU8rmjzYQq9NZNJLGFJafUVG2p_AtXGEXPdvS15SqgUmng5iK1qG9ZdNMV-gIFeDsKWHd1dl-VGrvhSKPBkZYrcSU0SMMXb2sXokIrFSs7mi9YRBLyn0rkCaufCV/s320/IMG_1695.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMn1DhzkwogjPmi8f0CBRAfO_v6hLwycA0IzmWhC8mb46xQaCM4mXDos7vw7OECt6OaB5nL-QpkRDzJX5gUIfz30RUieI-HwwqCkxgd0hTucsOk0NGBR1Ll7kod6J3fg1i_dD5agSMliFHUg-9cPXwkklzVyj8HOLat-moFIO2lK55zRWnJZKPBYkB79A/s4032/IMG_1693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMn1DhzkwogjPmi8f0CBRAfO_v6hLwycA0IzmWhC8mb46xQaCM4mXDos7vw7OECt6OaB5nL-QpkRDzJX5gUIfz30RUieI-HwwqCkxgd0hTucsOk0NGBR1Ll7kod6J3fg1i_dD5agSMliFHUg-9cPXwkklzVyj8HOLat-moFIO2lK55zRWnJZKPBYkB79A/s320/IMG_1693.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9AU2r7b7eKUyu-yD0cOwB9_Pbf76hfUhfW3fAJQsOMbJR3agyUg2Stqc0evwMNOf6Wlv2hTnWkmHSau6H_n5z9R4SrQQMyukwLz4x_1gGxJ5ocRRbYgZhkZ6euPZRWaXLQpgVF8ECHX7mynAbocfEEoEnP0a_8QUTNMfgo9hYlRNEYLz83cZ216SKne0/s4032/IMG_1692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9AU2r7b7eKUyu-yD0cOwB9_Pbf76hfUhfW3fAJQsOMbJR3agyUg2Stqc0evwMNOf6Wlv2hTnWkmHSau6H_n5z9R4SrQQMyukwLz4x_1gGxJ5ocRRbYgZhkZ6euPZRWaXLQpgVF8ECHX7mynAbocfEEoEnP0a_8QUTNMfgo9hYlRNEYLz83cZ216SKne0/s320/IMG_1692.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-28320332276601644232024-02-16T16:39:00.004-06:002024-02-16T20:09:34.396-06:00If the Shoe Fits, IP It<p>Shoes are amazing. I mean, I really like shoes. I am a shoe person. If you work in Fondren, chances are you've noticed some of my (very impractical) shoes.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaq5OwTPJbhESCBkuTibJkDu9SefLQGY3UkPh5aut0SJ4tP2LSmlM_gpriw-3L19bDx9kkhrPeeIlwC88s4KnMVhoLiT8yz5WZHAoCZcr3gZwqN4lELxvsrDfJOu-XCv4jdBH8_crusk7_uj0uS6WWYoOma0j3Ps-58TnRI_IXTMM6w-bNGAp0GMcKDBb6/s4032/IMG_1638.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaq5OwTPJbhESCBkuTibJkDu9SefLQGY3UkPh5aut0SJ4tP2LSmlM_gpriw-3L19bDx9kkhrPeeIlwC88s4KnMVhoLiT8yz5WZHAoCZcr3gZwqN4lELxvsrDfJOu-XCv4jdBH8_crusk7_uj0uS6WWYoOma0j3Ps-58TnRI_IXTMM6w-bNGAp0GMcKDBb6/s320/IMG_1638.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just in case you were wondering about today's pair<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>In light of that, I cannot believe I've hardly spent any time on shoe IP! </p><p>But, I attended a talk at the Rice Business school with Stuart Weitzman recently (I didn't win the raffle for custom boots and am still feeling pain), and it really inspired me to think about shoe IP. I even asked Mr. Weitzman about his IP, wondering if it was challenging to register his personal name for a trademark. He said it was no problem--which I didn't expect, but then, there probably weren't a lot of Stuart Weitzmans trying to register their names for fancy shoes. </p><p>The thing is, I recall just staring into the window the the Stuart Weitzman store in the Galleria, ogling those shoes, when I was younger. It was the kind of store I didn't even have an excuse to go into, so I just stood outside and lusted after the display shoes, which were beyond impractical for a 13 year old. At the time, I was just coming into my unique shoe tendencies, which were inspired in no small part by the fact that I attended a uniformed school, where we had to wear tennis shoes most days and "dress" shoes on dress days. The "dress" shoes were (for some unfathomable reason) Doc Martens, and every single girl in my grade always managed to have the exact same style of New Balances. But then I discovered that some athletic shoes also came with metallic striped colors. And Vans released a style that turned (in my case) pink in the sun. Once I found out I didn't have to wear plain athletic shoes to meet the standards of a uniform, my life's work of finding unique shoes began. Athletic shoes in pink suede with faux fur? Check. Throwback Roos complete with zippered pocket and neon colors? Check. Buckled mules with wooden soles? Check. My grandmother's vintage Uggs (about four sizes too large), before they got popular years later? Check. Bright orange patent leather flat platforms? Check. High heels on sparkly flip flops? CHECK!<br /></p><p>As an adult, the world of shoes only grew wider. And in celebration of how much fun shoes are, and how they can come in any imaginable variety today thanks to designers like Stuart Weitzman, let's explore some IP.</p><p>We really must start with Mr. Weitzman's trademark, since it inspired this whole entry. Now, there are many registered marks under that name, for a variety of goods and services. But what we want most are <i>shoe</i>-related marks. A number are the word mark Stuart Weitzman, for "retail store services featuring shoes" and etc. Like, 3 live ones: <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=76441262&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">2749908</a>, <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=86593796&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">5110490</a>, and <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=86593754&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">4971730</a>. The trademark registration number for just shoes as a good is <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73551189&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">1386002</a>, dating back to 1985. </p><p>Two others stand out to me a little more. The first (registration no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=76221446&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">2571208</a>) is for the word mark phrase "A LITTLE OBSESSED WITH SHOES", which is from an early advertising campaign that was brought up during his talk. It worked brilliantly, because it was a clever strategy to spread brand familiarity and even loyalty, rather than just a shoe. Unfortunately, I can't find an image from the earliest of these, but I have shared below the images used as specimens in the TSDR. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FHg682VywJcg0MsC3I6SWUq09GcM6M0xaBFwEycoVr_LtC_12oCBF_3oH_nbssWVKIwr35SC7G3_X3LTxEdkorIBMh2uHSyGje6RYBeT6F5riHrknUE1-7ZgP4FlvO45R_Fz87E57gx573CA34shoORoWCULQtTdNRh10qitu6CfpKJCpWEx_f0wvDUP/s1861/car%20intro.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1861" data-original-width="1464" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FHg682VywJcg0MsC3I6SWUq09GcM6M0xaBFwEycoVr_LtC_12oCBF_3oH_nbssWVKIwr35SC7G3_X3LTxEdkorIBMh2uHSyGje6RYBeT6F5riHrknUE1-7ZgP4FlvO45R_Fz87E57gx573CA34shoORoWCULQtTdNRh10qitu6CfpKJCpWEx_f0wvDUP/w158-h200/car%20intro.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I understand this one not at all<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8gFxemuJDZpoRdOsPQwt9ZsYRO1tu6ekZAnWRT84SicFCI0nA-u6Kcp90g80olI-CrfsfH8hS098IWuIcse8CCHCuEfkQdtt1e4sA6rNVsP7T0qRxunXyCCtBfkwDi_ygVyyhRI0idd5ZKwTM3gie5dSuIJRe3eSH8ChOJ_YJoTqm4h8o7v74tgj-xWb/s2600/Car.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2600" data-original-width="1713" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8gFxemuJDZpoRdOsPQwt9ZsYRO1tu6ekZAnWRT84SicFCI0nA-u6Kcp90g80olI-CrfsfH8hS098IWuIcse8CCHCuEfkQdtt1e4sA6rNVsP7T0qRxunXyCCtBfkwDi_ygVyyhRI0idd5ZKwTM3gie5dSuIJRe3eSH8ChOJ_YJoTqm4h8o7v74tgj-xWb/w211-h320/Car.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But note the bottom left: a little obsessed with shoes<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Secondly, there's the registration for the architectural design of his stores. Apparently, this unique look by the famous <a href="https://www.zaha-hadid.com/interior_design/stuart-weitzman-flagship-store/" target="_blank">Zaha Hadid</a> helped him achieve new markets. It's also a good reminder that IP goes beyond logos and brand names, and into the overall branding strategy. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=77730209&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">3797782</a> is for trade dress, a niche sort of service mark. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWTJjWUo6UT6P7tF_9akS-ihPBdJtrQiWNXlyuI4OvHDYrM-HBsSZGjcqSkCVuJfbtAuDrh1bW3BhZC7etIo0-Vnrr1P2G7H4TJKBqC2hBQ1Bg32N0ebXj0URVoLh3N0fruRfQDhKmY269Zs9zH1B79dwoGQQjLxwWWfTMmZWzeC-eag7oxB3hM95NbNZ/s320/store%20registration.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="320" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWTJjWUo6UT6P7tF_9akS-ihPBdJtrQiWNXlyuI4OvHDYrM-HBsSZGjcqSkCVuJfbtAuDrh1bW3BhZC7etIo0-Vnrr1P2G7H4TJKBqC2hBQ1Bg32N0ebXj0URVoLh3N0fruRfQDhKmY269Zs9zH1B79dwoGQQjLxwWWfTMmZWzeC-eag7oxB3hM95NbNZ/s1600/store%20registration.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A registered retail store appearance<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I hope Mr. Weitzman forgives me for my poorly worded question, and for drooling on his store's windows decades ago. <p></p><p>Luxury shoes aren't just for women or high fashion. Probably the most iconic, recognizable shoe today is an Air Jordan. It is equally acceptable for a man to collect and covet shoes when it comes to this brand, whereas one might otherwise (at least in certain age and social groups) face some scrutiny or censure. </p><p>The currently active word mark "Air Jordan" was first registered in 1985, no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73536336&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">1370283</a>. It does not claim any color, style, etc., just the characters, and is for footwear and athletic clothing. Michael Jordan might have been long remembered for his basketball career, but this brand (actually owned by Nike) has made him truly immortal. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7ISd19aGNZtHmOCtQUqERVQVTrN6CHw0MJGcVCYjNGebdffvfajQWwGJJaCXL1jkPgmaRVH2HsFbQ2YAn-K-JprnXOFxosUTaA_saq-i7KZKjhz7h-Gb5aDC7pr7ys3eR1t_NmsgTw1chiJxGykStKRmYYpWEhYsPCh-wBNebk3fRorZFK5TW_N5Fobg/s320/air%20jordan%20silhouette.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="320" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7ISd19aGNZtHmOCtQUqERVQVTrN6CHw0MJGcVCYjNGebdffvfajQWwGJJaCXL1jkPgmaRVH2HsFbQ2YAn-K-JprnXOFxosUTaA_saq-i7KZKjhz7h-Gb5aDC7pr7ys3eR1t_NmsgTw1chiJxGykStKRmYYpWEhYsPCh-wBNebk3fRorZFK5TW_N5Fobg/s1600/air%20jordan%20silhouette.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't know this?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>My first thoughts when I think of the brand are of the jumping silhouette imposed on the words Air Jordan, but surprisingly that is not a registered mark and never was. Issued serial no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=74041037&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">74041037</a> in 1990, this combo word and design trademark was marked abandoned and finally invalidated in Nov. 1994. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs07mrNDlFkK093h8mRJP3FPXpUFDqmh5nNJ7efok77JMaYwaZjbyLj6uGfcE4bIfRyXjzNzRhDOuLWEmWA96GO0Q_TazR1ZkJ0kVJhIIqUsf0ftEnWX9cU0vCY1qsyb2P7THEYH0hWJNSN48-I2qxhdYY8lv_NitW1HgFtYVJ1cJzsUAFyqI0ncg951p7/s320/large.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="320" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs07mrNDlFkK093h8mRJP3FPXpUFDqmh5nNJ7efok77JMaYwaZjbyLj6uGfcE4bIfRyXjzNzRhDOuLWEmWA96GO0Q_TazR1ZkJ0kVJhIIqUsf0ftEnWX9cU0vCY1qsyb2P7THEYH0hWJNSN48-I2qxhdYY8lv_NitW1HgFtYVJ1cJzsUAFyqI0ncg951p7/s1600/large.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know this<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I clearly don't keep up with this brand, since they've been using registration no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=77753704&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">3725535</a> trademark design since 2009. It's incomprehensible to me, unless they're trying to move away from Michael Jordan as a person. Those jumps were famous. Perhaps with time, they assume that reputation has faded, or that the Nike swoosh (too many registrations to list) is branding enough. Or perhaps they just want to use it without having to manage it as a trademark, since it still shows up in a substantial number of their specimen photos.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVqEK30cQOYvrVyVyR8D9UT88heUk1z_3-xd1C7kltwWQ1eGjElKYlm8yyFHfoMCHYocPKr1xa7pk4n_9Tl1OgURdkZFDiFUiQhhEAUbC-zSOXe5Uz2f9US9F6nN_X_TdFc8DTdrEfrVciOfOGWSeh2zlQALK6Ig_tuS-oAyF8K-ZUBY90-IDvPKhCNZc/s348/air%20jordan%20word%20image%20specimen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVqEK30cQOYvrVyVyR8D9UT88heUk1z_3-xd1C7kltwWQ1eGjElKYlm8yyFHfoMCHYocPKr1xa7pk4n_9Tl1OgURdkZFDiFUiQhhEAUbC-zSOXe5Uz2f9US9F6nN_X_TdFc8DTdrEfrVciOfOGWSeh2zlQALK6Ig_tuS-oAyF8K-ZUBY90-IDvPKhCNZc/s320/air%20jordan%20word%20image%20specimen.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why yes, they did select something out of date for a specimen<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>In my defense, their specimen for the word mark has the silhouette, and so does the small icon on the Wikipedia brief. So there. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrK9Zp7s7EqMG-Kq6GAQs4u3Fih-8SSZxQvgPIPOSsjQ0lbJiKm4_rXeII8tHb6jZxozrJN44ykvfKAKIedHaKdz6vA4Gs4s6D2FxeM3OEeF934tWT3NRst0Ie6s5TpJ6Cz-kg8fKU-yUr-YDHVIlwN74l2y27908P4vajPI-yyNMdIN07BC2uk6mSMNtB/s535/wikipedia%20brief.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="466" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrK9Zp7s7EqMG-Kq6GAQs4u3Fih-8SSZxQvgPIPOSsjQ0lbJiKm4_rXeII8tHb6jZxozrJN44ykvfKAKIedHaKdz6vA4Gs4s6D2FxeM3OEeF934tWT3NRst0Ie6s5TpJ6Cz-kg8fKU-yUr-YDHVIlwN74l2y27908P4vajPI-yyNMdIN07BC2uk6mSMNtB/s320/wikipedia%20brief.png" width="279" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why would they abandon this? To move away from the Jordan person?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Want another shocking piece of shoe trademark info? Louboutin (a brand of shoe as swoon-worthy as Stuart Weitzman's) does not own that specific color of red as applied to the sole of a shoe. At least, not in the U.S. You can see on the <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=76261832&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">TSDR record</a> that it is registered in France. <p></p><p>I'd like to move away from trademarks, though, and look at a few design patents. Mr. Weitzman mentioned design patents when I asked my (poorly phrased) question. He seemed dismissive, but I notice a few brands rely quite heavily on them.</p><p>First, Nike was probably the frequent assignee I found in my search. Here's an example of one that might relate to Air Jordans, US <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:f5da8936-726e-3776-8912-7f9f1e086448" target="_blank">D1,004,270</a>. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuQYoUHud1grltfnpR5VDeNWkLGddI_gKfRNe4fAB0vGw0beXVGEEsC3QGLK1EJ-V2wnSuVqUYeXknVDLbxyi4eL2xabkOpGPW3h08M_PBewF8fwtItkiXeMdfYf97mS9sPTVRvY6oPyuveEy6tb576FMcrqppJRfn9cykct1VT1t1BNACE1KbljupluQ/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-D1004270-Nike.pdf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuQYoUHud1grltfnpR5VDeNWkLGddI_gKfRNe4fAB0vGw0beXVGEEsC3QGLK1EJ-V2wnSuVqUYeXknVDLbxyi4eL2xabkOpGPW3h08M_PBewF8fwtItkiXeMdfYf97mS9sPTVRvY6oPyuveEy6tb576FMcrqppJRfn9cykct1VT1t1BNACE1KbljupluQ/s320/Pages%20from%20US-D1004270-Nike.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could be Air Jordans, or it could just be citing them<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Another designer name I notices, if not as often as Nike, was J. Choo. Jimmy Choo makes some <i>very</i> nice shoes; that's a brand up there with Weitzman and the likes of Louboutin. Even Terry Pratchett knows they're good shoes (if ever an author wrote <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:dec773bc-0916-387c-90b2-7236c8a50251" target="_blank">some great librarians</a>, it was Sir Pratchett--and I don't just mean <a href="https://discworld.fandom.com/wiki/The_Librarian" target="_blank">The Librarian</a>). This is a fancy shoe. To see the color version of the photo, visit <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:31d18764-7530-3c6d-b403-fb3389935cad" target="_blank">this link</a>. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1w97nlR_mkpMHyFO-221GIowUUfXFFlRwSLjyamtkm6ObAof_eAIjncnRkcjKDF0Zqv1vz8zHR2iwLY9vtfUqVKHyqU3pzy9ZqXIE5osY4YoLqjTYlnpwX_eMgJmC1M-v9v73ta8BTN38vUwu8RTrfLH6Xxbj6A8pi0gWt1rKz4R2vKUALd2FPTkEZr0/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-D1000808-J%20Choo%20Footwear.pdf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1w97nlR_mkpMHyFO-221GIowUUfXFFlRwSLjyamtkm6ObAof_eAIjncnRkcjKDF0Zqv1vz8zHR2iwLY9vtfUqVKHyqU3pzy9ZqXIE5osY4YoLqjTYlnpwX_eMgJmC1M-v9v73ta8BTN38vUwu8RTrfLH6Xxbj6A8pi0gWt1rKz4R2vKUALd2FPTkEZr0/s320/Pages%20from%20US-D1000808-J%20Choo%20Footwear.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost has a early 1900s feel<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>And finally, because not everything in life is about fancy shoes, here's a patented Crocs design. I've never owned a pair of Crocs, but I'm aware of their popularity, and that everyone wants to copy them. This version won't be duped! Thanks, US patent <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:8d04dc57-7e2e-33f1-a812-6521a0145c0d" target="_blank">D1,001,431</a>. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3cVyzJqj3NlsUg-0eEaQ0hfEVa-jivWMi74VIcKYDNMellC3WdBSqNWV_A8emNZ-DiE1xGW7cdpCPoRRynZ0yCinY-2cXTDMN7XLWfW7KW3D5CQ0qLhyphenhyphenO2p8whA-fqI7I6NF-dVHQgiYo3fTfJweG6h6UT8PNPkqYl_E8JqWXGwdcYdIF6D2F74JpzaR/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-D1001431-Crocs.pdf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3cVyzJqj3NlsUg-0eEaQ0hfEVa-jivWMi74VIcKYDNMellC3WdBSqNWV_A8emNZ-DiE1xGW7cdpCPoRRynZ0yCinY-2cXTDMN7XLWfW7KW3D5CQ0qLhyphenhyphenO2p8whA-fqI7I6NF-dVHQgiYo3fTfJweG6h6UT8PNPkqYl_E8JqWXGwdcYdIF6D2F74JpzaR/s320/Pages%20from%20US-D1001431-Crocs.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't copy these<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>With that, I need to stop looking at shoes. I already went shoe shopping and bought another pair thanks to these recent events. Just remember: if you like the shoe, it doesn't matter if it's fancy or expensive. What matters is if you can wear it and you like it! Fit isn't event that important if they're as good as the pair below, which are so cheap they don't even have a brand.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCG06yZO1nAXvHzXmZuIID5zDymSI4dwm3zpEEr4P1qesAlmYd3-PtRok4D_T5tXPTK7O2sD3LHjB1MRsgAeVDQE6U6ERsdmcFLla76LWjt5mORJZDt9KmaaGBdVEh7FWDvTDo5MnsU3QDRwgIFZOqiLnBV7OUpgVGFBjU4RQSUIu0tUM1XlX4SMu0qq4n/s3021/IMG_1664.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2213" data-original-width="3021" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCG06yZO1nAXvHzXmZuIID5zDymSI4dwm3zpEEr4P1qesAlmYd3-PtRok4D_T5tXPTK7O2sD3LHjB1MRsgAeVDQE6U6ERsdmcFLla76LWjt5mORJZDt9KmaaGBdVEh7FWDvTDo5MnsU3QDRwgIFZOqiLnBV7OUpgVGFBjU4RQSUIu0tUM1XlX4SMu0qq4n/s320/IMG_1664.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too cheap for <i>functional buckles</i>, but still great<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-90732386475391673292024-02-07T14:30:00.001-06:002024-02-07T14:30:43.032-06:00Potato Chip Patents!<p>Have I been on a food patent kick lately?</p><p>Possibly. But they really offer an interesting glimpse into how we eat and the nature of mass market foods.</p><p>Really, it was Lays that came up in a conversation that sparked this entry, and if they specifically had potato chip patents. Our bet was that yes, they did; I just needed to find some. (I didn't need to look to know they would have copyrights and trademarks.)</p><p>As it turns out, Frito-Lay (the owner of Lay's, a division of PepsiCo) has patents not only for creating potato chips, containing them, shaping them, de-oiling them, and frying them, to name just a few, but they also own patents for specific potato cultivars. </p><p>Some of these patents are quite a bit more interesting than others. I'm sure many of you are thinking, "Hannah, you've taught us all that tubers, like potatoes, cannot be patented!" But they can--just not as plant patents. Utility patents for potatoes are possible; they also are possible for genetically altered plants and plants created via sexual reproduction.</p><p>Here's one of the more recently granted patents for a potato variety they own: <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:ecb10e30-5430-3135-8f21-7fa3876616c0" target="_blank">US 10,561,114</a> Potato Cultivar FL 2512.<br /></p><p>Frito-Lay patented the process for creating the unique ridged chips. Here are two of the patents for making the ridges in slightly different formations, US <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:56cf1dba-b34c-3e11-95b7-03c4b2a0d219" target="_blank">4,511,586</a> and <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:94691e61-2507-32e9-8eb7-7ef7f5fc04e0" target="_blank">4,508,739</a>: <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwexR9W2UGkWfLI-DQi6JvlU6UtjONvVLKU2N8ueEtae_5eHXdPZ_esthmdLlrZGrvqRYR95FZ7QgRjaX5uD10mlmLQVLJ8ZYlIJWUbHyTi4kn-4lkj7buNT8VP5pWALdPhNAg1MbjeYptyM9py_Cv-LKTYRUn4MkeCg07c9BM02Mclb9JgR7HFbdP6xH/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-4508739-Potato%20Product%20Opposite%20Corrugations.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwexR9W2UGkWfLI-DQi6JvlU6UtjONvVLKU2N8ueEtae_5eHXdPZ_esthmdLlrZGrvqRYR95FZ7QgRjaX5uD10mlmLQVLJ8ZYlIJWUbHyTi4kn-4lkj7buNT8VP5pWALdPhNAg1MbjeYptyM9py_Cv-LKTYRUn4MkeCg07c9BM02Mclb9JgR7HFbdP6xH/w247-h320/Pages%20from%20US-4508739-Potato%20Product%20Opposite%20Corrugations.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opposite corrugations, with different frequencies (or number of wavy dips 'n' ridges)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQp7Q6a7dwhp0i1QCaHsXC5jMqXgl6_1zANrmf3_qB70jtoJ0J6LvqbRz-nxKLnkq5Sah00i1p3iUlxAH-c9upIR5NOTDlC1DSXy94HDJvE2Zk0Oio37dNZvy2HAO8Pc6IS0gDqWM4oSZ9D9FZCjIvBVSw7EEfr3-3AHepmOi5EiDzDvazp70Wk1MrSJl-/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-4511586-Potato%20Product%20Opposite%20phase.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQp7Q6a7dwhp0i1QCaHsXC5jMqXgl6_1zANrmf3_qB70jtoJ0J6LvqbRz-nxKLnkq5Sah00i1p3iUlxAH-c9upIR5NOTDlC1DSXy94HDJvE2Zk0Oio37dNZvy2HAO8Pc6IS0gDqWM4oSZ9D9FZCjIvBVSw7EEfr3-3AHepmOi5EiDzDvazp70Wk1MrSJl-/w247-h320/Pages%20from%20US-4511586-Potato%20Product%20Opposite%20phase.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opposite phase-shifted corrugations with the same frequency and amplitude, very distinct from above<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Later, they moved on to patenting the design; there are several for that, but here's an example, <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:1d1820ae-be27-30c0-adf0-fa7af14b32b3" target="_blank">D495,852</a>: <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IbcUP2dc829EQB_8TzcUHqpw1TVnFvHrkk-QTUZzfF83zgRAoZDicMOxfgCfSq3iKvNb41yFXP06bmRRe18KUJbrElVvRlO-b9wsLnSZzPv9cHjNFlw89nXBcKqknGY-mfN3Zy-Zof-EPiaCqNvBiNa_NPVHwKQsx-LXb9X8DjyqSkjdteTPpZcdW84q/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-D495852-Ridged%20snack%20food%20chip.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IbcUP2dc829EQB_8TzcUHqpw1TVnFvHrkk-QTUZzfF83zgRAoZDicMOxfgCfSq3iKvNb41yFXP06bmRRe18KUJbrElVvRlO-b9wsLnSZzPv9cHjNFlw89nXBcKqknGY-mfN3Zy-Zof-EPiaCqNvBiNa_NPVHwKQsx-LXb9X8DjyqSkjdteTPpZcdW84q/s320/Pages%20from%20US-D495852-Ridged%20snack%20food%20chip.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Explicitly and exclusively for the ornamental, non-functional appearance!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>There's even a high-amplitude version in a later utility patent, <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:ec9d27a9-90b8-3aa8-99c3-5793ce59920d" target="_blank">US 9,462,818</a>, because these ridges are EXTREME: <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxlfuAdatIrmmQGT3W_2i3h-CtHevtHPRIGCkwVWxL9zvS4ZabdKoDcAdpNci1QkQLnzBjJ0FHTRCz2pcdpNrtCmkgv2LcCqyzQaxcI4Ptj6PZBYdR1DiutwaD48U0aJqEyAhYn2Gb7QTXWF3X7KIssKB0I-2QEqEOdxFcwXsBoun-e-908_MvDjwJM3v/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-9462818-High%20amplitude%20corrugated%20food%20product.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxlfuAdatIrmmQGT3W_2i3h-CtHevtHPRIGCkwVWxL9zvS4ZabdKoDcAdpNci1QkQLnzBjJ0FHTRCz2pcdpNrtCmkgv2LcCqyzQaxcI4Ptj6PZBYdR1DiutwaD48U0aJqEyAhYn2Gb7QTXWF3X7KIssKB0I-2QEqEOdxFcwXsBoun-e-908_MvDjwJM3v/s320/Pages%20from%20US-9462818-High%20amplitude%20corrugated%20food%20product.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the very different amplitude between the <i>prior art</i> and this patent's version<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Batch control using Bang-bang control: I have no idea what it is about
or what it means, but the bang-bang control sounds uncontrollable, so <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:11cfd388-8228-3c7c-a416-f376f3cc185a" target="_blank">US 9,110,462</a> has the best title. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzucqfHKDe_eJq3jXYdboe3jBgri8P41I2GgTO9l58vGmRNq8WehmyGXH_w8YkrM2KSt5UGR162I-c1NU_nfJaoIQlS0sdIhm_rq88NDUzIDtG9uy2GsdqUwkarLk78vMJUN87eZXOQ7uZ11z5V1oFdgNyZl83_GlwzhzskuRYfTbcUyK4b2iopLymph2v/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-9110462-Batch%20control%20using%20bang-bang%20control.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzucqfHKDe_eJq3jXYdboe3jBgri8P41I2GgTO9l58vGmRNq8WehmyGXH_w8YkrM2KSt5UGR162I-c1NU_nfJaoIQlS0sdIhm_rq88NDUzIDtG9uy2GsdqUwkarLk78vMJUN87eZXOQ7uZ11z5V1oFdgNyZl83_GlwzhzskuRYfTbcUyK4b2iopLymph2v/s320/Pages%20from%20US-9110462-Batch%20control%20using%20bang-bang%20control.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BANG BANG seems more like what you call a process that is out of control, but what do I know<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Batched control is apparently related to the thickness and hardness of chips, with batch-frying giving a more kettle cooked texture and the continuous cooking being more like commercial Lay's potato chips. Frito-Lay was working on unlocking the secret to continuously cooking a kettle-style chip; get the deets in <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:151473b6-0862-360e-b0f7-d82107a1b7c2" target="_blank">US 4,863,750</a>. Did they ever achieve it? <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPogG7IOI5MWewhf3uZhcSFBBZp443vMvHsMALP7jeGI-PKPFvasFKr1rGoevoyzZB1HM-qMRsyBc_ST6rjOSDqxVC1BOWgd1FfymtwjseTzTmVIkhsYP2WP_D6gPU3h4x2vRJ2gTYCHBd6uW9iuuRcDMa4p9amRs3K-vWiuhge1Zh7BWhN4-m8UOCpCb2/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-4863750-Method%20for%20making%20potato%20chips%20hacing%20batch-fried.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPogG7IOI5MWewhf3uZhcSFBBZp443vMvHsMALP7jeGI-PKPFvasFKr1rGoevoyzZB1HM-qMRsyBc_ST6rjOSDqxVC1BOWgd1FfymtwjseTzTmVIkhsYP2WP_D6gPU3h4x2vRJ2gTYCHBd6uW9iuuRcDMa4p9amRs3K-vWiuhge1Zh7BWhN4-m8UOCpCb2/s320/Pages%20from%20US-4863750-Method%20for%20making%20potato%20chips%20hacing%20batch-fried.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is some serious potato chip science<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>You know chips like Pringles aren't really just sliced potato, right? Patent <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:ef8ac942-ff09-3337-a91a-8fc1a0ab8e29" target="_blank">8,632,835</a> proves it: <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGGYShuYC_0KTEnkN4D-lOGMYly_BAXA5I8MGu11ngmtvxISOWQ1mMnQdPnqm-6jAMMXJtmS_hSQKfjjjiIcynbxH3fFiJnBeEqiebYAj8qJnzY0KBp3YvFK1PBOljv2CD7MdKNVgpvZLdVbGeikUDVNPc7ymYkpS1-j5U8_j4GXUkkJiDV7DWNhFd_ij/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-8632835-B2%20Fabricated%20food%20product%20made%20from%20fresh%20potato%20mash.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5100" data-original-width="6600" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGGYShuYC_0KTEnkN4D-lOGMYly_BAXA5I8MGu11ngmtvxISOWQ1mMnQdPnqm-6jAMMXJtmS_hSQKfjjjiIcynbxH3fFiJnBeEqiebYAj8qJnzY0KBp3YvFK1PBOljv2CD7MdKNVgpvZLdVbGeikUDVNPc7ymYkpS1-j5U8_j4GXUkkJiDV7DWNhFd_ij/s320/Pages%20from%20US-8632835-B2%20Fabricated%20food%20product%20made%20from%20fresh%20potato%20mash.pdf.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tiny granules in the figure make it pretty clear there's no potato slice<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>And finally, <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:6e3841a1-4f89-3e92-b1d3-bfe3b79742aa" target="_blank">US 11,535,438</a>, the patent for a specially designed snack container, because we are ever reaching higher in snack containment technology: <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJ7XrkJ6HHltpciK2h5JwZZsJ3umqaEwba1ojfVnJ0ypoMPiO9npUZgwanK5CrKqGCBK1rq_1l21gvd0vBoMv094tRZvg6pGSiXvE9oJwCzUJhDNQ11zPNmMpqboYYL9UOdoeTNbzfccmNGquAUm0HUkIeyigOjB-FktwZ_rGMaUgyELXCG2XetCKJ82G/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-11535438-Container%20for%20stacked%20food%20products.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJ7XrkJ6HHltpciK2h5JwZZsJ3umqaEwba1ojfVnJ0ypoMPiO9npUZgwanK5CrKqGCBK1rq_1l21gvd0vBoMv094tRZvg6pGSiXvE9oJwCzUJhDNQ11zPNmMpqboYYL9UOdoeTNbzfccmNGquAUm0HUkIeyigOjB-FktwZ_rGMaUgyELXCG2XetCKJ82G/s320/Pages%20from%20US-11535438-Container%20for%20stacked%20food%20products.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This design certainly wasn't <i>over</i> engineered...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Ugh, thanks to this, I could <i>really </i>go for a chip right now. <br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-39826769572155323832024-01-30T14:03:00.012-06:002024-01-31T16:33:44.224-06:00Let's Get Cooking<p>The husband was watching this video on YouTube, and he called my attention to it at 22 seconds, because patents are referenced. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JV0-Gc2CDAQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="JV0-Gc2CDAQ"></iframe></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">There's nothing wrong with searching patents for recipes, I bet many PTRC librarians have!</span></p><p>My first reaction: "This guy sucks at patent searches! Finding an English version of a Korean patent is super easy. I bet he missed all kinds of results!"</p><p>And then I thought that perhaps I should just try it myself, because why not find patented methods for cooking that rely on unusual methods? It sounds like there may be some interesting material out there, and I'd really like to see what the Korean patent is all about anyway.</p><p>As it turns out, it's no wonder this YouTuber did not focus much on the Korean patent. It's a very short, Korean issued only patent that barely describes a meat cooking method. The title is actually <a href="https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DKR20040023460A" target="_blank">omitted</a>. So it's not so much that he can't cook in Korean, as it is that he would have just had to pick a method of heating and then some form of flavoring from a list, and then used whatever meat desired. It's an extremely unsatisfying patent for a lot of reasons. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIZn4aLoSSIb2nJinUF5HS9cvbad_fjR814NGqESXKZsMHJ__WxXDLnHrge4ozF08PWyFkc1h6UDRPrycGu3AleXGUNewAOn78hwob7NEWYeQJaNF7kPkAzzhX13irmWYFXyIwLFn0oE9w1iXh4RNtvkz9HG8__JRlgoEjpfaUQxF8t-KmE9BsHTQQPrf/s7017/Pages%20from%20Korean%20translated%20application.pdf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7017" data-original-width="4959" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIZn4aLoSSIb2nJinUF5HS9cvbad_fjR814NGqESXKZsMHJ__WxXDLnHrge4ozF08PWyFkc1h6UDRPrycGu3AleXGUNewAOn78hwob7NEWYeQJaNF7kPkAzzhX13irmWYFXyIwLFn0oE9w1iXh4RNtvkz9HG8__JRlgoEjpfaUQxF8t-KmE9BsHTQQPrf/w226-h320/Pages%20from%20Korean%20translated%20application.pdf.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exceedingly minimal info on how to cook your meat.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I decided to just look for some meat cooking patents, since general cooking could include a distressingly long list of results. I've searched for food and cookery patents before; if you don't limit ingredients, it's overwhelming. After a few tweaks to my query and organizing the results, I found a few interesting options. </p><p>Many were for meat cooking equipment. I chose not to focus on exclude those, because they aren't really recipes. With that in mind, here are the best (or at least most noteworthy), genuinely patented methods for cooking your meat!</p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Right off the bat I'm breaking my rules with patent 2,636,431: Device for Cooking Meat and Toasting Buns. I had to include it because the bun toasting in the same device caught my attention. Although I can hardly tell what is taking place in the diagrams, I have to assume it isn't just setting the buns on a heated surface. After all, this is a rotisserie for ground meat (???) and the buns are supposed to catch dripping juices (?!?!?!?!) while toasting, but not burning. Read the whole patent and description <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:8b5a3416-b77e-3f07-954f-95dd53d78b68" target="_blank">here</a>. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7Ji8wd_rq8IMFfxKAIJ0aYzGRS_miPDn56lOPTSjQfWCOJ8np20TpbxKGeXmKgnOZqyotjOJ5iEPEa-RIpL2V4U77h3uNPkodimIGQ7WC3W0dsbOQtiGpORbugWStjDpOEnplU1_5ZhwfkzsoVQlFkjgvcSDLJw8IoKi9NIemgnKYLgyaDkXb5meUsKi/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-2636431-cooking%20meat%20and%20toasting%20buns.pdf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7Ji8wd_rq8IMFfxKAIJ0aYzGRS_miPDn56lOPTSjQfWCOJ8np20TpbxKGeXmKgnOZqyotjOJ5iEPEa-RIpL2V4U77h3uNPkodimIGQ7WC3W0dsbOQtiGpORbugWStjDpOEnplU1_5ZhwfkzsoVQlFkjgvcSDLJw8IoKi9NIemgnKYLgyaDkXb5meUsKi/s320/Pages%20from%20US-2636431-cooking%20meat%20and%20toasting%20buns.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toast yer buns!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></li><li>Patent <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:bf2e3de3-54e7-330e-85d6-25b08c440c03" target="_blank">5,662,959</a> is for steam cooking of meats, which is supposed to prevent the loss of any water or moisture. Everyone is so concerned with retaining juices! I saw a lot of that in the patents. I'm starting to suspect that my own lack of experience with cooking meat--especially on grills--is affecting my perspective. </li><li>The Art of Cooking Hams, <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:fd791b67-d892-3b64-a7e8-25f8f14a5d50" target="_blank">US 1,214,627</a>: Because some people recognize that when you cook a ham, it isn't just a task, or industry, it's an <i>art.</i> Since I personally dislike ham, I can't really say if this is accurate... But if it's patented, I guess it's plausible. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib87ugcdJGpXavZb9tsooMjLDT9hCMgpFVqs9m-s96BYVNHyJ9cyj1Nh1-9VvKpim6QtoZkVzaA5nn7eZH0UjkXIQkFnzNf3GlyI61DpVE-ubty7C4GFAK_OYDbb2GZhItsZwMdGIIZm6pX1g8v7GjARiQR8tb8EiWpFTciwufGJjWYaWo-bZpjiFjTSWH/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-1214627-Art%20of%20Cooking%20Hams.pdf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib87ugcdJGpXavZb9tsooMjLDT9hCMgpFVqs9m-s96BYVNHyJ9cyj1Nh1-9VvKpim6QtoZkVzaA5nn7eZH0UjkXIQkFnzNf3GlyI61DpVE-ubty7C4GFAK_OYDbb2GZhItsZwMdGIIZm6pX1g8v7GjARiQR8tb8EiWpFTciwufGJjWYaWo-bZpjiFjTSWH/s320/Pages%20from%20US-1214627-Art%20of%20Cooking%20Hams.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How to create culinary art via porcine means<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></li><li>You're not supposed to ask about the process or ingredients, but someone had to describe it in detail for it to be patented. Read <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:eb4e02b3-c66a-39c7-99bd-36b0dcdee2d0" target="_blank">US 3,068,104</a> Preparation of Sausage at your own risk.</li><li>This invention is an overly complicated (in my opinion) method of imparting the unique flavor achieved through cooking meat by exposing it to heated wood. It requires one-time use thin sheets of wood. That seems like quite a manufacturing burden, but perhaps when <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:c5b39033-2c33-3994-b216-5477771087a4" target="_blank">US 2,423,964</a> was filed, it was not. The diagrams illustrate a surprising breadth of possible variations, too. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5McZXV7Y9crWo08k7WOBsJWYYT69OyunOw81SN9Jk0aWtBke70ICnUTT7z6GD8jVlDiWrlVp9N7KEcE_nP6UduDHxC83ulcvboa-xbgAVNN6tfTeej986W_Wn53pwLeuRmOEkCAtNwWu360LS2eEavzrWxtJgTQW0jnqTblitqmTYyud0m5Bd4e8a1s4/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-2423964-Process%20of%20cooking%20a%20mear.pdf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5McZXV7Y9crWo08k7WOBsJWYYT69OyunOw81SN9Jk0aWtBke70ICnUTT7z6GD8jVlDiWrlVp9N7KEcE_nP6UduDHxC83ulcvboa-xbgAVNN6tfTeej986W_Wn53pwLeuRmOEkCAtNwWu360LS2eEavzrWxtJgTQW0jnqTblitqmTYyud0m5Bd4e8a1s4/s320/Pages%20from%20US-2423964-Process%20of%20cooking%20a%20mear.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impart a delicate, woody flavor to your meat<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></li><li>Need a constant minimum cooking time for a specific kind of animal? <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:f602f509-7533-345e-bba1-9854a26845e3" target="_blank">Patent 3,908,035</a> Method of Roasting Meat is a device that provides just such a thing! Select the meat variety, weight, and whether frozen or not, and let it do the rest. You can even view it while cooking.</li><li>Finally, let's end with some "meat product". <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:615feeae-dc3a-3b33-9d6f-8368b1f141c4" target="_blank">Patent 5,322,705</a> presents a method for creating a highly processed meat product that visually resembles the initial food product, generally meat. Gross! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWY6t_X2Ymu4HxWH8WRSMPqpBYYmrJLZsPDEHTRzskJnovChGg4rwR2wqt-LBNfqhJvBnjQtTlqqKnF_2xyNwRK80O6VVuPEEbfcTDP3EYEJZ3ADu1hm5HtgS0ESoG5uxjJ55DgaXTGJI_S_SJoyBYr6TWWLycfMXzOezqb90Zbtjawio9kHkvAT3fWxB/s6600/US-5322705-Cooked%20pureed%20and%20visibly%20like%20original_Page_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWY6t_X2Ymu4HxWH8WRSMPqpBYYmrJLZsPDEHTRzskJnovChGg4rwR2wqt-LBNfqhJvBnjQtTlqqKnF_2xyNwRK80O6VVuPEEbfcTDP3EYEJZ3ADu1hm5HtgS0ESoG5uxjJ55DgaXTGJI_S_SJoyBYr6TWWLycfMXzOezqb90Zbtjawio9kHkvAT3fWxB/s320/US-5322705-Cooked%20pureed%20and%20visibly%20like%20original_Page_2.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, goody, now we can all make "meat product"<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></li></ol>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-67797266061741171392024-01-16T10:48:00.008-06:002024-01-16T16:07:00.466-06:00Unexpected Patents: Chopsticks<p>Hey. Did you know there are a lot of patents for chopsticks? Not design patents, utility patents. I didn't, until today, when I decided to look for them on a whim. </p><p>Writing implements and chopsticks combo. This seems like a <i>terrible </i>idea. Get ink in your food and food on your work... <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSv3hP4GnIy9xCFS780foTJI23vG_U7fprn8IIiHNkDJk0lIW7E7UtQwIbuSedj-J30pYhTA5Z9m8bzrz8kjgVmit6DIPz5_5imWvvP99Or30fsy3xcSDK7UzUVV6dMkFYQixUrp4j49pNQlIHA7U3PkLDo7Afn31vv744FJtjmLNM8yqz9uLtlG5xgsq6/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-7637681-B2_I.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSv3hP4GnIy9xCFS780foTJI23vG_U7fprn8IIiHNkDJk0lIW7E7UtQwIbuSedj-J30pYhTA5Z9m8bzrz8kjgVmit6DIPz5_5imWvvP99Or30fsy3xcSDK7UzUVV6dMkFYQixUrp4j49pNQlIHA7U3PkLDo7Afn31vv744FJtjmLNM8yqz9uLtlG5xgsq6/s320/Pages%20from%20US-7637681-B2_I.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:98470e1b-88f6-37eb-be99-c210aa36bb55" target="_blank">7,637,681</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Self elevating chopsticks? Perfect! Never again worry about how you set them down. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7HMg73UFMMfsbsgMofhO-gmZJOWeXV5SlScHcw2LqvD-k1NJS4NaQODY4HI6XagFncNsX5JomCoDRs375YkbgDedxtZx6hLOA_mCF5V7P7mL9c3DpWkkz52EEl5Wd6yZao-qPxj1CUvIbHTkq_WpjnTaHhV8p7uPvk_rht_tpln5fJwP1c4mDNE_tzMt/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-10058202-B2_I.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7HMg73UFMMfsbsgMofhO-gmZJOWeXV5SlScHcw2LqvD-k1NJS4NaQODY4HI6XagFncNsX5JomCoDRs375YkbgDedxtZx6hLOA_mCF5V7P7mL9c3DpWkkz52EEl5Wd6yZao-qPxj1CUvIbHTkq_WpjnTaHhV8p7uPvk_rht_tpln5fJwP1c4mDNE_tzMt/s320/Pages%20from%20US-10058202-B2_I.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:90124a43-6d0f-3eef-9ccc-193758cd3b7c" target="_blank">10,058,202</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>This multi-functional chopsticks for children is the kind of invention that likely never made it beyond a prototype and the patent. Truly, who would need so much tech packed into a child's utensil? Have you seen children eat? They're slobs. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI4Ph4KIyvC3jDE_EIaSs71ZHF4gUxKezzO0R3yA5L4XnskWrJLSLWhjz8yk6-WzKuI5HxX5WD4xQ3IohZ5cT2fj91FdVPObbsUw751d98P3NXw7oz6xqCb-naDGwiqcPMDsrc0sZWhaAcc2JjzopuMLCsk6PAWlYRDUN71FeG1SO16qCkbLRIt2RLIDd/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-9547999-B2_I.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI4Ph4KIyvC3jDE_EIaSs71ZHF4gUxKezzO0R3yA5L4XnskWrJLSLWhjz8yk6-WzKuI5HxX5WD4xQ3IohZ5cT2fj91FdVPObbsUw751d98P3NXw7oz6xqCb-naDGwiqcPMDsrc0sZWhaAcc2JjzopuMLCsk6PAWlYRDUN71FeG1SO16qCkbLRIt2RLIDd/s320/Pages%20from%20US-9547999-B2_I.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:6594ef91-206c-3fc7-a20d-43f105d387d0" target="_blank">9,547,999</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Portable, foldable, and with their own case? Neato! I always hated it when the paper wrapping on the set of chopsticks I kept in my purse got torn up. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZJtyfq4kIFyw_AWiD3ji9cikZ7mqcbwPbS2ZA89PBounfHikecDXQXaOehhM3xUrqlLOHMuh0FvjFIWpu6jzxkXfeSh62begurkE2GzVPPkcB4PmWs4GqGGXUQuryhvAGvnXDJlPRruJ8TpeZsotqw0p8qFpJchRq-5in0jksTquIYVAZvRwGMlY3avn/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-10888186-B2_I.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZJtyfq4kIFyw_AWiD3ji9cikZ7mqcbwPbS2ZA89PBounfHikecDXQXaOehhM3xUrqlLOHMuh0FvjFIWpu6jzxkXfeSh62begurkE2GzVPPkcB4PmWs4GqGGXUQuryhvAGvnXDJlPRruJ8TpeZsotqw0p8qFpJchRq-5in0jksTquIYVAZvRwGMlY3avn/s320/Pages%20from%20US-10888186-B2_I.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:084e5a54-5256-38f7-a9b7-567f3ea24d61" target="_blank">10,888,186</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I think we all have carpal tunnels, so ergonomic chopsticks are nice. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIY-Q9wCSXCiCvaxCMSsSFHljCnW0bEv0k7BfPI8TbNUNDVHmhvtoMIp4pCO1Oobm7wgb6P2L7Asj41jAtzY1FSh7Ry93VmnCsbHwDyQXD4aPtO0XlU2OgEcsQfo9a_vxLNjuxdA-jBLf6-2G2ivbYXRXyEFDBDPZX2l3M1T-paG1eRWwGdd8w6w1bXCk/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-11213149-B2_I.pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIY-Q9wCSXCiCvaxCMSsSFHljCnW0bEv0k7BfPI8TbNUNDVHmhvtoMIp4pCO1Oobm7wgb6P2L7Asj41jAtzY1FSh7Ry93VmnCsbHwDyQXD4aPtO0XlU2OgEcsQfo9a_vxLNjuxdA-jBLf6-2G2ivbYXRXyEFDBDPZX2l3M1T-paG1eRWwGdd8w6w1bXCk/s320/Pages%20from%20US-11213149-B2_I.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:608347b0-e007-329d-9d29-ddc9dbeb4fea" target="_blank">11,213,149</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>These are like the sports car version of chopsticks: made for performance. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfwUyPLaBNngJtQN8J6cuEMUOB7hMXJikPJ8ZB3mVVMM4U57rYPY5X74aEOmQtOZ7P2x5avM6sue-Q6eUmCxZkYV23Ie-lOSYDt4f1hhhDdm5YtP1_cr8_-HiqgqhBw3w9_0jnFBXV4fK53T9zXbxoKGbq_a1xRmCmhz_imWIiWYl_Z8CWk7WM5_z2bL_/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-10258178-B2_I.pdf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfwUyPLaBNngJtQN8J6cuEMUOB7hMXJikPJ8ZB3mVVMM4U57rYPY5X74aEOmQtOZ7P2x5avM6sue-Q6eUmCxZkYV23Ie-lOSYDt4f1hhhDdm5YtP1_cr8_-HiqgqhBw3w9_0jnFBXV4fK53T9zXbxoKGbq_a1xRmCmhz_imWIiWYl_Z8CWk7WM5_z2bL_/s320/Pages%20from%20US-10258178-B2_I.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:c77b7c9a-36bb-3350-ab33-866137721625" target="_blank">10,258,178</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Would I be able to extend them enough to steal food from someone else's plate? <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9PnxUlyLEBqaRkvBrlmldnLtzc3GEKu6XpFUV4IUA2U5lTlbZV8u-DjRAIW_Mhj2sqw4BoCwx_ql3UL0hE3nZpO2e2kl0XMGDBGXe34o7-i1DkqCxurO6G3QvBIsNX4uvu9AKhdbHWuvm-3qKfHxtF-FKuwP75vgQxHHBxP2obtJY-iL-8uysHjixFmp/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-7258375-B1_I-1.pdf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9PnxUlyLEBqaRkvBrlmldnLtzc3GEKu6XpFUV4IUA2U5lTlbZV8u-DjRAIW_Mhj2sqw4BoCwx_ql3UL0hE3nZpO2e2kl0XMGDBGXe34o7-i1DkqCxurO6G3QvBIsNX4uvu9AKhdbHWuvm-3qKfHxtF-FKuwP75vgQxHHBxP2obtJY-iL-8uysHjixFmp/s320/Pages%20from%20US-7258375-B1_I-1.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:c1235a53-5f8f-3ae6-835f-a37313a429d4 " target="_blank">7,258,375</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Look, this chopstick attachment invention isn't the best of the patents, but it included a lot of patent-specific vocabulary, and it was worth putting on the list just so people could see "proximal" and "distal" in action. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLMZ3vXF19uuvvGwHmCy2YXLKxI4O5TuYu1xaE5D00nC1knMAvTfZMfWKrW6vHnwM2DK9yhjWHorYHdg1VdhODYnYXqdJ0wenw5zcKP3AU6Ek3NUCk_xVCh4YTnIatM8LFRgypIytWyW5Xb_KtVxslzKclbX1G8_sniBilAtjX-BasRMrRkQ8f6l0b9p7/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-9259111-B1_I.pdf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLMZ3vXF19uuvvGwHmCy2YXLKxI4O5TuYu1xaE5D00nC1knMAvTfZMfWKrW6vHnwM2DK9yhjWHorYHdg1VdhODYnYXqdJ0wenw5zcKP3AU6Ek3NUCk_xVCh4YTnIatM8LFRgypIytWyW5Xb_KtVxslzKclbX1G8_sniBilAtjX-BasRMrRkQ8f6l0b9p7/s320/Pages%20from%20US-9259111-B1_I.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:0701c7b6-a2f0-3ff5-9566-94dc7177028f" target="_blank">9,259,111</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>If you can use both, JUST PICK ONE! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3MAxnKsurdn8sZsPQtOusogbmTdYzeFtKrzOa0LwAY1aJRq8yo5Su8hBDX-bsxtzJH9L36R1poKA-G1rU_VgphsQ_Nl5nfD16bQiaLQTxjY7Xg9ON0QqzW0vrAsnDr3eIpfZkmFwv_Sq33pX0KEK0BiXP2nkYnbU9zjcebZ3NttNlNABh-T51ucY0xTD/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-5056173-A_I-1.pdf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3MAxnKsurdn8sZsPQtOusogbmTdYzeFtKrzOa0LwAY1aJRq8yo5Su8hBDX-bsxtzJH9L36R1poKA-G1rU_VgphsQ_Nl5nfD16bQiaLQTxjY7Xg9ON0QqzW0vrAsnDr3eIpfZkmFwv_Sq33pX0KEK0BiXP2nkYnbU9zjcebZ3NttNlNABh-T51ucY0xTD/s320/Pages%20from%20US-5056173-A_I-1.pdf.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:e0a65346-01f5-37d5-ab6f-36c2a52bf029" target="_blank">5,056,173</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I keep telling people patent searching can be fun! Now will they believe me?<br /><p></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-13950975824499147562024-01-04T12:56:00.001-06:002024-01-04T12:56:49.867-06:00Public Domain Free-for-All<p>In case you've somehow managed to miss it, Mickey Mouse's first incarnation, Steamboat Willie, has entered the public domain. Of course, so did multiple other notable works, but this one has drawn the most attention.</p><p>Many others have already reported on it, so I won't be getting into a ton of detail here--why rehash the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2024/01/01/mickey-mouse-public-domain-steamboat-willie/" target="_blank">Washington Post</a> or <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/01/1221606624/mickey-mouse-public-domain-disney" target="_blank">NPR</a> or <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24023543/disney-mickey-mouse-steamboat-willie-public-domain" target="_blank">the Verge</a> or <a href="https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/mickey/" target="_blank">so</a> <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2024/01/04/the-steamboat-willie-mickey-mouse-situation-explained/?sh=b96afb92bc8a" target="_blank">many</a> <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/02/steamboat-willie-mickey-mouse-public-domain/" target="_blank">others</a>? You can read those and get most of the details.</p><p>But as an IP blog, it would be remiss of me not to comment on this development. </p><p>Yes, I think it is a development. Copyright laws exist as they are today in small part due to Disney's interest. The changes to the laws in 1998 that extended copyright protection length earned the nickname "The Mickey Mouse Protection Act" for a reason (again, go read one of the other cited articles about that). <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdHVEXO2prhv5UuIQp-BOmA6RZI62jHPnLVcs9dx8dh8TNpCDLRqSygSx_CwWhTw1YWWw1aJUc-81Ho_5f1q6g5ea-FggLCB7D9sE38FK1YiZ-yrZtN0h2tMGWWvjVo051QGbBPs2kEX7MC7kjNC6zRtywH1K2NKXgL_qnbVvlo5czM48Y1UGHITJvY9U/s624/Steamboat%20Captain.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="624" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdHVEXO2prhv5UuIQp-BOmA6RZI62jHPnLVcs9dx8dh8TNpCDLRqSygSx_CwWhTw1YWWw1aJUc-81Ho_5f1q6g5ea-FggLCB7D9sE38FK1YiZ-yrZtN0h2tMGWWvjVo051QGbBPs2kEX7MC7kjNC6zRtywH1K2NKXgL_qnbVvlo5czM48Y1UGHITJvY9U/s320/Steamboat%20Captain.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anyone can use this!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>There's not a lot for me to say that hasn't already been said--exhaustively--by other outlets. </p><p>I suppose I'll have to remind you that it's just this Mickey and Minnie Mouse that are public domain.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86R1gHo1rdP7MJg9vSp8EBk4LBTUo1Mpc-1FCAeL_pYt66Yq9K3a3zrq3C7r_5pSQfsPC-Zw37ITxvjRdr-RM-_LrUAXK528S-9_De_V9CcEsU2vcM3s3SLazEtFvbuFGG17jms8sdx02pMzOj6Aw3MoQnJk0ZF2Gz0R47RZVqChG9KfXs-T4nTv_Fwol/s582/Steamboat%20willie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="582" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86R1gHo1rdP7MJg9vSp8EBk4LBTUo1Mpc-1FCAeL_pYt66Yq9K3a3zrq3C7r_5pSQfsPC-Zw37ITxvjRdr-RM-_LrUAXK528S-9_De_V9CcEsU2vcM3s3SLazEtFvbuFGG17jms8sdx02pMzOj6Aw3MoQnJk0ZF2Gz0R47RZVqChG9KfXs-T4nTv_Fwol/w200-h182/Steamboat%20willie.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gloves are off!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJnPQe3ILUBwbJznWn3XyWw1mRMnH-6xhFg6w17ZGbhJxpMCcIFqt0jCYaYdVm0iREGd5u1CRX_qtI44itZwcKO-gkhT1vlHaJ7twAY0mw8QndAtlQX9e-vK9wYDZ8pjilVswOb_S41_xW7s3ZI4kcKn_qQS2SHaKpq9Q-WYV-tPujuQAVHGJxBLsSZev/s234/Steamboat%20Minnie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="233" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJnPQe3ILUBwbJznWn3XyWw1mRMnH-6xhFg6w17ZGbhJxpMCcIFqt0jCYaYdVm0iREGd5u1CRX_qtI44itZwcKO-gkhT1vlHaJ7twAY0mw8QndAtlQX9e-vK9wYDZ8pjilVswOb_S41_xW7s3ZI4kcKn_qQS2SHaKpq9Q-WYV-tPujuQAVHGJxBLsSZev/w199-h200/Steamboat%20Minnie.png" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No one can stop you from doing things with these mice<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Later incarnations of the Mouses--color, in different clothes, less abusive towards fellow animals--haven't yet reached their limits of protection. Their time will come, but for now just stick with exploiting this version. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlIXgvxn7y66bbmwxnDldT9oxZCtjY7wfM_un6NdGbrZycRzo5tHh_sDdoutPXMZZ8DnomJuSq51zOJgDLiuw2xjGz_KcfVBlyh98z9XHweA1dDo5YDCKeE7r1WBZ8Mf509lWVhVYwGjSjHmqtXo_0iKuis-f-LqhWnDGH2zZ0ZdUhBJ1MdhB3RPycbrX/s483/Steamboat%20piglets.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="483" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlIXgvxn7y66bbmwxnDldT9oxZCtjY7wfM_un6NdGbrZycRzo5tHh_sDdoutPXMZZ8DnomJuSq51zOJgDLiuw2xjGz_KcfVBlyh98z9XHweA1dDo5YDCKeE7r1WBZ8Mf509lWVhVYwGjSjHmqtXo_0iKuis-f-LqhWnDGH2zZ0ZdUhBJ1MdhB3RPycbrX/s320/Steamboat%20piglets.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mickey looks absolutely <i>twisted</i> while mistreating these creatures</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwc1KOKyRR7bXW8I0b4Tp0uRonFdEzEcXGS-H-uGVnaubp6Ocz2UE5OyCZl6e_BwXqw6-88EVi-o7tnRCWrHK7aFKX8LFXLquJdx_lC-qeMGTMMuaImTd_7sOt5QFbRIhf0nja8KSg7HabrlHBvEU2SPncQZV6MYYswSv0so-42tUINB1CwEK7XrFfSDAC/s345/Steamboat%20Kitty.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="306" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwc1KOKyRR7bXW8I0b4Tp0uRonFdEzEcXGS-H-uGVnaubp6Ocz2UE5OyCZl6e_BwXqw6-88EVi-o7tnRCWrHK7aFKX8LFXLquJdx_lC-qeMGTMMuaImTd_7sOt5QFbRIhf0nja8KSg7HabrlHBvEU2SPncQZV6MYYswSv0so-42tUINB1CwEK7XrFfSDAC/s320/Steamboat%20Kitty.png" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Disney can't stop me from using the images or pointing it out!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Also, Disney made some fairly smart IP investments with Steamboat Willie elsewhere. They've been using this earliest Mickey for trademark purposes. Not that this Mickey is a trademark or has been trademarked--but they are doing their best to hold on to the property as theirs for all commercial purposes. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYZ2kA-sQFL0CadA01B2ePUuC-7QI4N5dnwduJLmsXYScUJBZAe4QF-VAzsobStywLL6FJPPmYJJLcFIV5K5eOEDffpZMlHX5QCo61EgPkNqm-RIKhytPUek6pqu87C4YvGFPg6chMn_gschCu8DJHfv4ok1lX_K9IxMVLHwXRyraWLXb1z4a9jgNCdwu/s1080/Steamboat%20Willie%20Corn.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYZ2kA-sQFL0CadA01B2ePUuC-7QI4N5dnwduJLmsXYScUJBZAe4QF-VAzsobStywLL6FJPPmYJJLcFIV5K5eOEDffpZMlHX5QCo61EgPkNqm-RIKhytPUek6pqu87C4YvGFPg6chMn_gschCu8DJHfv4ok1lX_K9IxMVLHwXRyraWLXb1z4a9jgNCdwu/s320/Steamboat%20Willie%20Corn.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A now permissible use of an AI generated image of Steamboat Willie Mickey eating corn on the cob (something was lost in translation)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>So use Steamboat Willie Mickey and Minnie for creative, copyrightable works, but don't wade into the commercial aspects. Disney has a lot of IP power.<br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-23445866769665022452023-12-21T12:35:00.013-06:002023-12-21T13:06:43.048-06:00Holiday Special Post! Magnetic Tape and IP Are Disappointing Star Wars Fans<p>Let's talk about copyright, and in particular, Star Wars.</p><p>For those who may not know, Star Wars is among the most valuable franchises, and has more IP than I'd care to try to list. And while the franchise spans games, toys, books, TV shows, clothing, amusement parks, and probably food items, it all stemmed from a project in the 1970s that came with no small amount of scorn and doubt. </p><p>Today, we all know and love the original Star Wars movie (later A New Hope), copyright 1977. However, many have only seen specific edited versions, or "special editions", that came later. In fact, there aren't a lot of viewable copies of a widescreen (normal. Today that's just normal.) original version. That is something of a collector's item--and not just according to the label.</p><p>Yes, dear readers, I have a copy of the original trilogy on VHS in widescreen. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60vHcUlLmWVVX0GTx3CqgTlig6dqoNR7X88CC5l8nfQ6jnScu-dHPg86pr12VS6Ck53Eeo8pj-vyI973J-FwFLeoy1c81xTNEACM4J-2L2xkYwt7Y_Ar8VrHs0YGkca6GzWveDX8EP-vl_aOBa216UlXQtWWqyVXUI0XC23OyBoNdB6s6gbtmsFVfBURz/s4032/IMG_1254.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of a boxed set of the original Star Wars movie trilogy on VHS tapes, widescreen version" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60vHcUlLmWVVX0GTx3CqgTlig6dqoNR7X88CC5l8nfQ6jnScu-dHPg86pr12VS6Ck53Eeo8pj-vyI973J-FwFLeoy1c81xTNEACM4J-2L2xkYwt7Y_Ar8VrHs0YGkca6GzWveDX8EP-vl_aOBa216UlXQtWWqyVXUI0XC23OyBoNdB6s6gbtmsFVfBURz/w240-h320/IMG_1254.jpg" title="An image of a boxed set of the original Star Wars movie trilogy on VHS tapes, widescreen version" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Widescreen was once an optional format<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>And, like many people, I would like to own that version on a slightly more contemporary media format. Why I can't purchase it on DVD or stream it is another story. Briefly, after editing his films Lucas didn't want the older version distributed, meaning that I might be able to find a bootlegged version or a non-professionally edited copy, but not the true originals. <p></p><p>So, with help from the staff in the Digital Media Commons (shout out to Ian), I decided that this slow time of year was perfect to transfer it to DVD. [Look, I know that it's copyrighted material and I am pretty familiar with the basics of copyright; but I didn't intend sell, distribute, show in public, etc. the DVD. I just wanted to be able to watch my movies at home.] <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIzdGgmcMsnNkMgdENzLgOk-g3XnitGJWd5Qsrmepwij5XF58Ug5PX1NmE72eY52lfeP76O9Ulx14P5SF6grl5SRp6zxw_X4urHv8yS4aLD4ljkpYndDYJZ1EoRqvVeNQ-7H9assqeUxLBpdSMiHUBpMHvsOgxwbYD7kCGhrgF9eyMzPGprPMRV89Lr6f/s4032/72487765527__EF107CED-F9B8-4384-9557-38A282938CE1.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of a message on a screen that says copying is not allowed, shown over the Star Wars typeface font" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIzdGgmcMsnNkMgdENzLgOk-g3XnitGJWd5Qsrmepwij5XF58Ug5PX1NmE72eY52lfeP76O9Ulx14P5SF6grl5SRp6zxw_X4urHv8yS4aLD4ljkpYndDYJZ1EoRqvVeNQ-7H9assqeUxLBpdSMiHUBpMHvsOgxwbYD7kCGhrgF9eyMzPGprPMRV89Lr6f/w240-h320/72487765527__EF107CED-F9B8-4384-9557-38A282938CE1.HEIC" title="An image of a message on a screen that says copying is not allowed, shown over the Star Wars typeface font" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bad news, fans<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p><p>As it turns out, someone foresaw this type of activity, and there's a built-in mechanism that prevented me from making a DVD copy. Apparently, a part of the magnetic tape has been encoded. This is distressing because VHS has a fairly short shelf-life, and there aren't many players left that don't destroy or damage a tape due to age. Furthermore, finding a VHS player that is compatible with modern TVs or screens is challenging, and becoming impossible. Even the converters are harder to find, and tend to be more unreliable. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaI6lt9RCvKvFTiDMb_4cKD4m94mrIIQWgh6Z7QBOj68WWCKpdictKlaa4m8PX8qXgaVK1eEu-1g47o9lCzqABj3jeCwsjHvJ4fhLJphk9jSHn9yk6QOfCc_YcO5Uos8IcUBHevFtQVzxUewq2FxRRXQSVjIhrNshfJmmYLzXgKwms1E9MBhs8YTm9gYt4/s4032/IMG_1255.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of a boxed set of the original Star Wars movie trilogy on VHS tapes, showing the three tapes boxes" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaI6lt9RCvKvFTiDMb_4cKD4m94mrIIQWgh6Z7QBOj68WWCKpdictKlaa4m8PX8qXgaVK1eEu-1g47o9lCzqABj3jeCwsjHvJ4fhLJphk9jSHn9yk6QOfCc_YcO5Uos8IcUBHevFtQVzxUewq2FxRRXQSVjIhrNshfJmmYLzXgKwms1E9MBhs8YTm9gYt4/w240-h320/IMG_1255.jpg" title="An image of a boxed set of the original Star Wars movie trilogy on VHS tapes, showing the three tapes boxes" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A boxed set of sci-fi, space drama joy, a Collector's Edition!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>What is most frustrating about this, in my opinion, is how many times people likely recorded the movies from onto VHS, or Tivos, or whatever, back in the day. This fairly common practice clearly never affected the value of the original property. I mean, it's worth billions! People attempting to make a copy of this specific VHS could not have been widespread enough to affect the overall value of the Star Wars franchise, either. <p></p><p>Here's some potential evidence for my reasoning that people who recorded Star Wars material haven't destroyed the value of the original.</p><p>In 1978, there was a televised event, the Star Wars Holiday Special. It was made to capitalize on the success of Star Wars, and also the holiday season. It was aired a single time, because it was simply just so awful. In fact, the people behind it did their best to try to forget it ever happened and hope that the rest of the world would, too.</p><p>Well, people don't always forget things, and fortuitously (?), some viewer decided to <a href="https://www.starwarsholidayspecial.com/" target="_blank">record the Holiday Special</a>. As one might expect, the advent of the internet and the web led to it turning up online, and the <a href="https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/The_Star_Wars_Holiday_Special" target="_blank">Holiday Special</a> had quite the renaissance decades later. It feels like only one copy of it was ever retained, because most of us have seen an ad for a local news report after the special. Who knows, maybe someone has the original shots and tapes somewhere. But given Lucas' opinion and attitude towards the Holiday Special (which is allegedly that he was mostly uninvolved and wasn't it awful what those TV people did?), it is no surprise that he didn't have his company distribute copies.</p><p>Despite the train wreck that is the Holiday Special and its refusal to die, Star Wars didn't lose any of its value. Not even immediately following the international airing of it, and almost universal bad reviews. The later bootleg versions that so many of us fans have seen haven't tarnished the value, either. </p><p>So why stymie fans like myself, who just want a semi-modern copy of movies they love? We aren't a large enough force to impact the value of Star Wars, and never have been. By the time this collectors' edition was released, all three films had been out for years, and available on multiple media formats. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-rKWx0e79wEx8V-9c03ZA6ex8vM-HuBN2bT5kGInUT7Ijh_ancXln7qiZjgCPTr47Y6G0zj87Tr4W3bHVF8cqSQjAhr132f-81BmHOH_1dus56OXg-tmvT0iQE5gcglyrnf3qsGClnzNstEXYSOp7T5MyqTtuVHdTN06IxiH0Q4vKltKEo_Xx45HeyDA/s4032/IMG_1256.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of a boxed set of the original Star Wars movie trilogy on VHS tapes, showing the three tapes boxes and the VHS for the first movie" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-rKWx0e79wEx8V-9c03ZA6ex8vM-HuBN2bT5kGInUT7Ijh_ancXln7qiZjgCPTr47Y6G0zj87Tr4W3bHVF8cqSQjAhr132f-81BmHOH_1dus56OXg-tmvT0iQE5gcglyrnf3qsGClnzNstEXYSOp7T5MyqTtuVHdTN06IxiH0Q4vKltKEo_Xx45HeyDA/w240-h320/IMG_1256.jpg" title="An image of a boxed set of the original Star Wars movie trilogy on VHS tapes, showing the three tapes boxes and the VHS for the first movie" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A VHS I failed to copy today <br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I'm going to assume that perhaps most commercially made VHS of a similar quality has these built-in safeguards, and that it isn't just Lucasfilm or 20th Century Fox being particularly cruel about their IP. Perhaps it was standard manufacturing process to include.<p></p><p>I'm still mad, though. I was planning on watching the movies during the break.<br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-28698188176927661182023-12-11T11:51:00.000-06:002023-12-11T11:51:05.945-06:00The Mystery of the Hy Jacker<p>We're Texans here at Rice, and Texans love their cowboy boots. But something not everyone knows about cowboy boots is that they can be hard to remove.</p><p>During a conversation with a colleague from Rice's <a href="https://entrepreneurship.rice.edu/" target="_blank">Lilie</a>, I learned about the greatest boot jack ever sold: a transportable, fold-able, metal boot jack. She found it on <a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/325848938582?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=325848938582&targetid=1530439031891&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9027580&poi=&campaignid=19851828444&mkgroupid=145880009014&rlsatarget=pla-1530439031891&abcId=9307249&merchantid=6296724" target="_blank">Ebay</a>, and asked me what the "patent pending" inscription meant. <br /></p><p>It's hard to say without some. First, a product can only claim to have a patent pending if it meets a couple of criteria. At the most basic, some kind of patent application needs to have been filed. However, it could be either a provisional patent application or a regular (or nonprovisional) utility patent application. Without getting too deep into the technicalities and legal side of things, a provisional patent application is an unexamined version of an application that acts similar to a placeholder. Someone might file this before seeking out investors or clients, to ensure their claim on an invention is valid. After all, patents are granted to the first to file, and only inventions undisclosed prior to the patent process are patentable. Applicants then have 12 months (with some exceptions) to file the nonprovisional utility patent application, which is examined and can lead to obtaining a patent. </p><p>Inventions that have a nonprovisional utility patent application on file can claim to have a patent pending, but might also say "patent applied for". [I suspect that "patent applied for" may be avoided because it is longer and just doesn't sound quite as good. Alliterations are appealing.]</p><p>However, her real interest was if it was too niche of a product, because if this boot jack was granted a patent, wouldn't it be easier to find? Perhaps more common on the market and not just a vintage listing? <br /></p><p>Well, this got me wondering about the fate of the Hy Jacker and its patent. I did a basic preliminary search for portable, foldable boot jacks on <a href="http://Lens.org">Lens.org</a>, and found one potential match. Yet, as my colleague had also learned from her own brief Lens search, this was not the same invention. She subsequently sent me a <a href="https://www.mercari.com/us/item/m99906190374/?gclsrc=aw.ds&&adgroup=141023032450&network=g&device=c&merchant_id=134611514&product_id=m99906190374&product_id=1945292428001&gad_source=1" target="_blank">link with images</a> of the Hy Jacker for reference. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNy14COQm8euZYwKbYDSZQz2_EwmuIzmndpa4CS6dH80-UStR7apRDqQQdEtfXC3adxGw_Mpa6IUEsC-c-mleKpp9TDd07Bo6DybqJVB9LCLlN4J9cu4nX92EwyIJd-tF31U-jgii_aZe0DDFhivPlLDIEoCM3vV7pBZcv6ktIXPS-nmK-mhOxQe8Shy3/s616/Hy%20Jacker%20of%20Mercari.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A photo of the base of the Hy Jacker that shows an inscription of the Hy Jacker registered trademark and the words patent pending" border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="616" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNy14COQm8euZYwKbYDSZQz2_EwmuIzmndpa4CS6dH80-UStR7apRDqQQdEtfXC3adxGw_Mpa6IUEsC-c-mleKpp9TDd07Bo6DybqJVB9LCLlN4J9cu4nX92EwyIJd-tF31U-jgii_aZe0DDFhivPlLDIEoCM3vV7pBZcv6ktIXPS-nmK-mhOxQe8Shy3/w320-h267/Hy%20Jacker%20of%20Mercari.png" title="A photo of the base of the Hy Jacker that shows an inscription of the Hy Jacker registered trademark and the words patent pending" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hy Jacker's IP inscription<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>This is where the search heated up a little, and made its way into potential blog post territory.<p></p><p>I immediately noticed that right above "patent pending" was inscribed Hy Jacker, complete with federal registration mark. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqwvbqHrEdUvkOCtdxTntXkUHlg0SOtTJRj2qUxnKkTq_0iBJV66ZiMOxE_uvhbP12hvHjAwFKyS8Hc3ITUpcDrPjCjzW2uA-fwO0Dc69yOmeGh2FwjvF8gFMVYQN7zpihW4YwUAGHoSPzT-epCWlEhIM6PmE5VW_oofLgEHEa3CXdL4NcwjsF27YSFib/s960/s-Ebay%20image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A photo of the base of the Hy Jacker that shows an inscription of the Hy Jacker registered trademark and the words patent pending" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqwvbqHrEdUvkOCtdxTntXkUHlg0SOtTJRj2qUxnKkTq_0iBJV66ZiMOxE_uvhbP12hvHjAwFKyS8Hc3ITUpcDrPjCjzW2uA-fwO0Dc69yOmeGh2FwjvF8gFMVYQN7zpihW4YwUAGHoSPzT-epCWlEhIM6PmE5VW_oofLgEHEa3CXdL4NcwjsF27YSFib/w240-h320/s-Ebay%20image.jpg" title="A photo of the base of the Hy Jacker that shows an inscription of the Hy Jacker registered trademark and the words patent pending" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the same part<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Ah ha! With that, I could potentially search the trademark database for information on the manufacturer, which might give me a concrete piece of information to use in a patent search.</p><p>I might teach most people how to perform keyword patent searches, but if you ever have specific information on a patent, use it. That is much easier; save your keywords for discovery searches.</p><p>Finding the Hy Jacker <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73373899&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">trademark record</a> was fairly easy. Issued registration number 1255353 in 1983, Hy Jacker® had a fairly short life as a federally registered mark. It was cancelled in 1990, for failure to file an acceptable declaration under Section 8. Which means, essentially, that the owners did not inform the USPTO it was still in use. (Or not in use under certain acceptable special circumstances, as it may be.) Since there are no documents available through the TSDR, it is hard to learn further details about the fate of the Hy Jacker® trademark. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlU6KJjrZYfpzdxKOfq6KZBrA6YZ32Yok3qBt17B_eXmtO1olF6nJvlecBgIftdVbXPmAL1e4M0u2TXkIVkaHN310MHGvYa39EDtuN-e0eVTy66WbvEGAB8u8xhxSgzTRiuBU-ILcYhdZFilhKTl26wiTbb2XSwjw9ZhqHOfE36cnO-707qPvtNMzJ-Eze/s320/Hy%20Jacker%20TM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An stylized text image of the words hy jacker from the trademark registration record for the hy jacker" border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="320" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlU6KJjrZYfpzdxKOfq6KZBrA6YZ32Yok3qBt17B_eXmtO1olF6nJvlecBgIftdVbXPmAL1e4M0u2TXkIVkaHN310MHGvYa39EDtuN-e0eVTy66WbvEGAB8u8xhxSgzTRiuBU-ILcYhdZFilhKTl26wiTbb2XSwjw9ZhqHOfE36cnO-707qPvtNMzJ-Eze/w320-h201/Hy%20Jacker%20TM.png" title="An stylized text image of the words hy jacker from the trademark registration record for the hy jacker" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Word image on the registration certificate and record<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>What we do gain is information on the name of the company and its location. If a patent was ever issued, this will help us. <p></p><p>Unfortunately, we also learned that this product was probably manufactured between 1983 and 1990, so if it never was granted a patent, we may not be able to find much. Patent Public Search only has nonprovisional patent applications post March 2001. There are other resources that might have patent applications prior to that, but none of them have databases of provisional applications. </p><p>VOILÀ! Our luck held! A quick session with Patent Public Search revealed that the Hy Jacker® received two patents, around the same time the trademark was registered. It was granted <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:46e82ece-4c28-34cc-ab79-3e49bc041981" target="_blank">one utility</a> and <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:108d6497-da91-39d2-b1fd-c32ded574c84" target="_blank">one design</a> patent. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyv5FgsUu6UnhKOray09P2ENBg9hywiU8eGPr-RuujNBXqYW0F9Cg84_PF78TDH3Q2HnjHB7zr2HZoyuydAfmuYMiNepQlhquYku8PLOh8Wakk-_GVNQKs8ZQHhY0vLOEoGNqXDLqkUpczRei7bT-biPGepw42Sm8UvFEq2ciuhOqb6UHnBR1-nHR3un6/s624/PPS%20Results.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of results from a Patent Public Search that shows a design and utility patent issued for a collapsible bootjack to HyJacker Products" border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="624" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyv5FgsUu6UnhKOray09P2ENBg9hywiU8eGPr-RuujNBXqYW0F9Cg84_PF78TDH3Q2HnjHB7zr2HZoyuydAfmuYMiNepQlhquYku8PLOh8Wakk-_GVNQKs8ZQHhY0vLOEoGNqXDLqkUpczRei7bT-biPGepw42Sm8UvFEq2ciuhOqb6UHnBR1-nHR3un6/w400-h171/PPS%20Results.png" title="An image of results from a Patent Public Search that shows a design and utility patent issued for a collapsible bootjack to HyJacker Products" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patent Public Search isn't for everyone, but I'm a librarian so I like query syntax<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>And, my colleague at Lilie may be in luck, too: these patents are definitely expired... she should get some of her entrepreneurship contacts on board with recreating the Hy Jacker®! </p><p>Now, I don't know the fate of the Hy Jacker® company, but it seems to have been a sad one. It appears to have failed within a few years, maybe because the market wasn't large enough, or saturation was reached too quickly with a long-lasting product, or if perhaps the inventor (Robert C. McCormick) or the business ran out of money after registering too much IP too quickly. So it might not be a great idea to restart a business based on this product. But at the very least, she could have a few more made without fear of IP infringement. <br /></p><p>Mystery solved, folks. Got any other IP cold cases? Your PTRC Rep is just a message/phone call away from closure.<br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-91963327683251222762023-12-04T16:26:00.001-06:002023-12-04T16:26:36.358-06:00AI Is Getting Better...<p>A quick update post: generative AIs are improving. If you <a href="https://ricepatinfo.blogspot.com/2023/02/my-ai-replacement-coming-soon.html" target="_blank">review</a> some of my <a href="https://ricepatinfo.blogspot.com/2023/05/chatgpt-making-librarians-looks-good.html" target="_blank">previous</a> <a href="https://ricepatinfo.blogspot.com/2023/10/chatgpt-useful-at-last.html" target="_blank">posts</a> about their ability to perform some of my tasks, patent searches in particular, you'll recall that the most basic available tools (ChatGPT 3, for example) <a href="https://ricepatinfo.blogspot.com/2023/02/my-ai-replacement-coming-soon.html" target="_blank">failed abysmally</a> in all respects. </p><p>From there, they improved slightly, but most still were unable to produce accurate results, if any.</p><p>After testing a few more recent iterations, I found some improvements. The best so far is from Perplexity.ai, which produced one set of search results, to an extent: <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMUPlNj98xyinLLtIFiL4csA-twCSgHevqnNht2wEsl2GmBUpwjDuUMAcp_w3kUHNbnK9Lx9cToicb2k05Nt8DsZheASUzpbn_zWUdEAVDpXXAm2GvPfEEDu38bz-sji1j49A89srKTTyq_AV5VuGUuEGlSJ8Elbk9-ktNJaODdpgg1DXhaDrn5ZTrR9D/s624/patent%20search.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A screen capture of Perplexity.ai's response to the question "is there a patent for a new silicone hydrogel material for contact lenses?" that includes 5 results" border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="624" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMUPlNj98xyinLLtIFiL4csA-twCSgHevqnNht2wEsl2GmBUpwjDuUMAcp_w3kUHNbnK9Lx9cToicb2k05Nt8DsZheASUzpbn_zWUdEAVDpXXAm2GvPfEEDu38bz-sji1j49A89srKTTyq_AV5VuGUuEGlSJ8Elbk9-ktNJaODdpgg1DXhaDrn5ZTrR9D/w320-h268/patent%20search.png" title="A screen capture of Perplexity.ai's response to the question "is there a patent for a new silicone hydrogel material for contact lenses?" that includes 5 results" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least there are results and they mostly make sense<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Of course, if you're familiar with US patents, you've likely spotted that some of these aren't truly recent--we surpassed patent 11 million in the US in May of 2021, so patent no. 6,861,123 is... old. Three are also patent applications, from 2021, 2023, and 2014. One is almost a decade old, and potentially none have been granted.</p><p>I tried a more specific prompt, hoping for less generic results, and that was just too much to handle: <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4lxUcORmK7h_xVDJahHyV2XFq2dWR8NXD1LDPlnlAHQR4aoB_Eln2PrtdozhXmI5EIgroN3sL_m3i3P3ND-H3dKt5tJbfHmKG7YoEKybJ4J2UMINwA9UftfBakQviM6gHc1XqTWopYhw2LL6PF5JN5932_la9K7zX-u9VTwDzNQytpSH0xmrvaW6F_Zz/s624/patent%20search%20fail.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A screen shot of Perplexity.ai's answer to "Can you search for patents related to contact lens materials, made of silicone hydrogel, with an extremely high oxygen permeability?" that does not provide any answers" border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="624" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4lxUcORmK7h_xVDJahHyV2XFq2dWR8NXD1LDPlnlAHQR4aoB_Eln2PrtdozhXmI5EIgroN3sL_m3i3P3ND-H3dKt5tJbfHmKG7YoEKybJ4J2UMINwA9UftfBakQviM6gHc1XqTWopYhw2LL6PF5JN5932_la9K7zX-u9VTwDzNQytpSH0xmrvaW6F_Zz/w320-h219/patent%20search%20fail.png" title="A screen shot of Perplexity.ai's answer to "Can you search for patents related to contact lens materials, made of silicone hydrogel, with an extremely high oxygen permeability?" that does not provide any answers" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Generative AI is really amateur compared to a <i>librarian</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>However, it is worth noting that Perplexity.ai always provides sources.</p><p>Also, generative AI clearly isn't meant to replace advanced searching. Maybe one day.<br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-47116358155815534812023-11-29T11:06:00.000-06:002023-11-29T11:06:00.248-06:00First Sale Doctrine and You<p>Like me, I know you've definitely contemplated how it is permissible for books and other products to be resold without violating creators' or original owners' intellectual property rights.Why is it okay to sell a book to Half Price Bookstore, who resells it, when the contents of that book belong to a copyright holder? How is it legal for vintage stores to sell branded garments from internationally recognized trademark holders like Nike, complete with the trademarked Swoosh? If car dealerships are independently owned and operated, why are they permitted to sell vehicles that are comprised of many patented parts, bearing trademarked logos and even appearances?</p><p>After all, in many of these case, the products have been altered or associated with a new brand. New cars come with post-manufacturer upgrades that don't void warranty or make them any less a version of their original make and model. Some vintage stores have embellished garments or accessories that are still sold using the original product's familiar qualities, using that to add market value. </p><p>Patent law says that assignees have the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, offering for sale in the U.S., or importing into the U.S., their patented inventions. Copyright law grants owners the right to selling copies, performing, exhibiting, displaying, playing recordings of, and distributing reproductions of their work, and authorizing others to do any of those. Trademarks grant businesses the right to use a specific image, phrase, sound, or some other media to identify their brand and product.</p><p>These aren't cases of licensing, in which creators or owners allow a third party to use their IP for a fee or some other exchange. </p><p>So why aren't dealerships sent cease and desist notices, clothing
resellers taken to court for trademark infringement, and authors/publishers suing
second hand book stores for royalties? <br /></p><p>What we're looking at here are all cases of first sale doctrine--a legal precedent near and dear to all librarians' hearts (which may also be described as <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/exhaustion" target="_blank"><i>exhaustion</i></a> when concerning patents). It's an interesting aspect of IP law that can be applied in roughly the same way to <a href="https://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2017/04/article_0008.html" target="_blank">patent</a>, <a href="https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2010/05/06/08-16005.pdf" target="_blank">trademark</a>, and <a href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/jm/criminal-resource-manual-1854-copyright-infringement-first-sale-doctrine" target="_blank">copyright</a> cases. </p><p>Generally speaking, the specific rights to income from IP for an item stop after the <a href="https://digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1030&context=lawreview" target="_blank">first sale</a> to the general consumer market. </p><p>An important part of this to keep in mind: it is the specific copy or item that first sale doctrine applies to, not the concept or work--the true IP at stake.<br /></p><p>In the case of copyright, I can resell a book but not make copies of it, or perform public readings from it, or create a movie based on it. Only that one copy, that particular item, is subject to first sale. </p><p>Similarly, the same applies to products with trademarks appearing on them. Reselling the branded product does not infringe, only reusing the actual trademark separately would. In our example above, applying the Nike Swoosh to the name of a resale store, or using it to represent the store in some way, would be the violation. But carrying products that have the mark is distinct. </p><p>Think of it the same way in terms of <a href="https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/mdocs/en/scp_34/scp_34_3.pdf" target="_blank">patents</a>: a vehicle with patented components is a single instance of that patented technology. The actual patent, or producing more vehicles with the same patented components, is not for sale or distribution. <br /></p><p>It is also important to note that first sale doctrine, primarily when applied to trademarks, also stipulates that the re-selling does not negatively impact its value. If the general consumer's goodwill towards a brand is damaged because of the resale, then first sale doctrine may not apply. </p><p>The seller also needs to make it clear, in many cases confirmed by courts, that they are not the actual owner or representatives of any items. That's kind of why "independently owned and operated" gets thrown around a lot (though only one reason). </p><p>To combine those two concepts, if I turn Nike athletic shoes into a pair of sandals, they can't be such poor quality that it reflects negatively on the overall Nike brand. I also can't represent my sandals as something licensed or produced by Nike. It must be very clear that these are Hannah's athletic sandals, sold by Octopeds™ company. [<a href="https://library.rice.edu/courses/trademark-searching" target="_blank">Octopeds</a>™: they're so great, you wanna wear eight!]</p><p>Of course, we have to consider that any one of these examples may not go the way I propose them in a court of law. A company like Nike may not look too kindly on someone messing with their products; if they take me to court, they're going to win just because I can't afford to compete with their legal resources. </p><p>Also, I'm not a lawyer or a legal expert, so don't quote me or my blog
on this. Use the linked pages, they are more authoritative.</p><p><br /></p><p>Are you confused yet?</p><p>Yeah, me too. Let's go look at internet cats or something instead. <br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-28077617534459681042023-11-21T11:59:00.001-06:002023-11-22T09:33:03.587-06:00Hobbit IP: Permissions there and back again<p>Here's a fun, (semi-personal) local story about IP for you. <a href="https://hobbitcafehtx.com/" target="_blank">The Hobbit Cafe</a> opened in Houston in 1972 as a uniquely vegetarian restaurant for its first decade. During this time, interest in the Hobbit and Lord of The Rings was much more limited--the first of the live action movies did not come out until 2001. [The 1970s animated movies and series, like Ralph Bakshi's, were cool, but not mega-blockbusters, and didn't have the same effect on the IP's value.] <br /></p><p>Still, the owners very responsibly obtained permission from the Tolkien estate to use the Hobbit name and related themes. Decor, menu items, and today merchandise prominently feature characters and settings. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjib0hIo7BavO_cO1ElQJZukhBemAQ99O3cJIhFmV06VAeZdm3x-QUGXdJx3Hf4pYLLtOxxlV7gnwI2C7d7_7XEJZOgxo-XhSFfRmCzEv2UvflzFkUC4jluat15FLSgkBtqeWC69qtP3bNG_cOLds0iFgn9n47TZplnstQENsgxawCR7F629fPrY7TQpb03/s4032/IMG_0979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjib0hIo7BavO_cO1ElQJZukhBemAQ99O3cJIhFmV06VAeZdm3x-QUGXdJx3Hf4pYLLtOxxlV7gnwI2C7d7_7XEJZOgxo-XhSFfRmCzEv2UvflzFkUC4jluat15FLSgkBtqeWC69qtP3bNG_cOLds0iFgn9n47TZplnstQENsgxawCR7F629fPrY7TQpb03/s320/IMG_0979.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Hobbit shirt from days of employment; I recommend a Smaug design if you want one.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Across the decades, more Lord of the Rings and Hobbit-inspired restaurants and commercial venues opened in Houston, and around the world. Yet clearly, few of them remain today. For example, Rivendell Grill is long gone.</p><p>And why is that? </p><p>It's best understood if I first explain some of the franchise ownership rights. Presently, most of those belong to Middle-earth Enterprises (formerly Tolkien Enterprises), which is a division of the Saul Zaentz Company. New Line Cinema and Miramax own the rights to the movies and the related IP. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcdaOEJXA3FscIfzlLMwyXCnwFerwwPMCvnusdOxDoHryKv1HGSekUfX5LKPH26qGCE_j7fXiTX1vWxb2P_j5iy0M3z0eAgtUxVJiVca18sTugkSBCqJNK2-y_YZBCnqIsk9s1y6Z22Oe_MQklFOwHWVvwpgTwSCBd1DQcHOK3tnd-GqsKWzGXapIiSC1/s5112/LotR%20Copright.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Copyright.gov record for the registration of the first live-action Lord of the Rings movie" border="0" data-original-height="4136" data-original-width="5112" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcdaOEJXA3FscIfzlLMwyXCnwFerwwPMCvnusdOxDoHryKv1HGSekUfX5LKPH26qGCE_j7fXiTX1vWxb2P_j5iy0M3z0eAgtUxVJiVca18sTugkSBCqJNK2-y_YZBCnqIsk9s1y6Z22Oe_MQklFOwHWVvwpgTwSCBd1DQcHOK3tnd-GqsKWzGXapIiSC1/w320-h259/LotR%20Copright.jpg" title="The Copyright.gov record for the registration of the first live-action Lord of the Rings movie" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A really boring image of the copyright record for the first live-action Lord of the Rings movie<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The Tolkien estate retains many rights; when they grant licenses, they can select what licensees may use. Integral to this post, their permissions supersede Middle-earth Enterprises. <br /><p></p><p>So, when the franchise was re-licensed and a new film adaptation released, the IP became a much more valuable
commodity owners were not inclined to share.
Establishments like Rivendell Grill were contacted and told to shut down
or change because they violated the rights of the owners of Lord of the
Rings and Hobbit concepts. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhT3XU4Ubc3k11ibobWUVjCloYrigf4KOBGGtNkmwjy0DQTdh34qnIyXQ6iQUX5Oy396-VYIREoPrrCr915dpSMNzjJWRNSqrR3qEf0CFAmFdmA0_bip0qQuUmqn5vAxFXNNWrN-t2R0nmyVG6FY6dPSnBn-aqMfK7ZLHT6S_AOBytdtL6oK2CWQz97WjH/s608/Old%20TM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of the trademark record for the word mark Hobbit, registration no. 2976573" border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="608" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhT3XU4Ubc3k11ibobWUVjCloYrigf4KOBGGtNkmwjy0DQTdh34qnIyXQ6iQUX5Oy396-VYIREoPrrCr915dpSMNzjJWRNSqrR3qEf0CFAmFdmA0_bip0qQuUmqn5vAxFXNNWrN-t2R0nmyVG6FY6dPSnBn-aqMfK7ZLHT6S_AOBytdtL6oK2CWQz97WjH/w320-h136/Old%20TM.png" title="An image of the trademark record for the word mark Hobbit, registration no. 2976573" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The oldest but still live mark on record for the Hobbit word mark related to Lord of the Rings<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Records of many lawsuits and and legal disputes over Lord of the Rings-themed names for business, especially called Hobbit, are easy to find. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbit_(word)#Proprietary_status" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> lists several, but none of them mention Houstonian entities. Which, fine, we evidently haven't created any notable enough cases, and for a distinct reason.<p></p><p>This next part is sort of "insider info". I mentioned at the start that this was a semi-personal story; the Hobbit Cafe is near and dear to me for a few reasons. I waited tables there as my first paid job out of college, and yeah, I've heard all the jokes about the good my art history degree was doing, thanks. [It's also where my husband and I met. Ask me in person sometime for that fun story, though it is best told with both of us present.] </p><p>It was during my employment that I learned about the fate of so many Lord of the Rings-themed joints. Evidently, in the early 2000s, the holders of certain rights went on a spree, demanding that establishments without their licensing or permission close. The Hobbit Cafe, fortunately, could produce evidence that they had obtained permission to open a restaurant directly from the Tolkien family and estate. The Hobbit Cafe, thanks to their due diligence and respect for IP, was allowed to remain open. <br /></p><p>That's a lesson for all of us to take away from this. Permission was simple enough to procure over 50 years ago, and stands up to major companies' legal forces. </p><p><br /></p><p>But on a final note, Hobbit Cafe seems to have never been granted a service mark for their name. Check out the <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=77676883&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">records here</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>On a more final note, I'm not endorsing the Hobbit Cafe and neither is anyone else. This is meant only as a tale to help people understand why permission for IP are so important. My husband and I visited the restaurant recently on the day a judge officially tied our knot, and<i> just like</i> <i>you</i>, I think about IP all the time. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygG9Ik2XjIpq-04QQS3Af4MshngsLvge8RzhGBaYl-bmvuNXR9dcc8sLe6g1V50MOkjHU1hHK-cXcX8sfLOxQgdsEXqaD9YkwE6fquxc6Y4qFuY1OHFQrbVsbI87G7zd6M_gDDbE0QHUgU7GoT7ZqC7-rbjRLpJ5TsI08ItfCXtAArufpQRI0Fqs7jWMI/s3088/IMG_0630.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A photo of two people ina cafe with green walls. One person has their eyes hidden with a black rectangle." border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygG9Ik2XjIpq-04QQS3Af4MshngsLvge8RzhGBaYl-bmvuNXR9dcc8sLe6g1V50MOkjHU1hHK-cXcX8sfLOxQgdsEXqaD9YkwE6fquxc6Y4qFuY1OHFQrbVsbI87G7zd6M_gDDbE0QHUgU7GoT7ZqC7-rbjRLpJ5TsI08ItfCXtAArufpQRI0Fqs7jWMI/w150-h200/IMG_0630.jpg" title="A photo of two people ina cafe with green walls. One person has their eyes hidden with a black rectangle." width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Us hamming it up in the cafe on the day in question. I'm protecting his privacy... he hates it when I use his picture<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-5393892001139016752023-11-06T15:19:00.002-06:002023-11-06T17:24:03.189-06:00Bill Nye the Patent Guy<p>Yep, turns out Bill Nye isn't just a fun science educator, TV personality, and proponent of science and logic: he's also a patented inventor. </p><p>I watched a fair bit of Bill Nye the Science Guy as a kid (federal mark registration nos. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=88140491&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">5767841</a>, <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=88357164&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">6016692</a>, <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=75034855&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">2010276</a>, <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=1573911&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=US_REGISTRATION_NO&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">1573911</a>, and <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=74360249&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">1794982</a>); there are some pieces of his show I still recall clearly, more than 25 years later. He blended <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealBillNye" target="_blank">entertainment and science</a> learning for children in a unique way that was memorable to many people, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syIRDP_QVWw" target="_blank">proven</a> by his <a href="https://youtu.be/upVrWFs5Sxg?si=rI40PI84JUhQejiY" target="_blank">continued</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neMijDwaRzw" target="_blank">influence</a> on my <a href="https://youtu.be/JDcro7dPqpA?si=Si1NL0dc78sbB5Z8&t=622" target="_blank">generation</a>. [Language warning on that last one.] <br /></p><p>It is therefore hardly surprising to learn that he is also the inventor of multiple patents. I could not have been more pleased when I recently learned this. </p><p>And, very appropriately, some of them could have been featured on his show, used to explain science to kids (or even adults). Most notable in that category is US Patent no. <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:33d5087f-79ae-3c80-bacf-3fa71c016b2b" target="_blank">5,515,203 Educational Lens</a>. It could have been on his show, as the patent essentially states in the background information section. That section is the most easily readable in any utility patent I've ever seen, and reflects many of the values and statements we've always heard from Nye: science is for everyone, we can make it interesting and educational for all people of all ages, and simple household items can be used for fun science experiments. Unfortunately, the rest of the patent reads fairly similar to others, relying on jargon and special patent syntax found in no other form of writing. The Educational Lens is Nye's first patent, granted in 1995. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5G0kuPbhBNCfrfTj-Xj4Oa9EwnUf0TRCkSiDmjmHyvK_iylcXdhiEjEkH1gTCwaZcUkDVICT-JHo8QMq2C8Drhdkyl32jxll_eC6HftaxbusdcTpGwgqgmiGqg-vvQPesyagHBKpTVdoqh5ehzZzUEBWWuYgaaSqPPGW1kz4Tga3Y3zSjSXcA8NtI-X9/s2948/Pages%20from%20US-5515203-Educational%20Lens.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A diagram from the Educational Lens patent, no. 5,515,203" border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="2948" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5G0kuPbhBNCfrfTj-Xj4Oa9EwnUf0TRCkSiDmjmHyvK_iylcXdhiEjEkH1gTCwaZcUkDVICT-JHo8QMq2C8Drhdkyl32jxll_eC6HftaxbusdcTpGwgqgmiGqg-vvQPesyagHBKpTVdoqh5ehzZzUEBWWuYgaaSqPPGW1kz4Tga3Y3zSjSXcA8NtI-X9/w320-h270/Pages%20from%20US-5515203-Educational%20Lens.jpg" title="A diagram from the Educational Lens patent, no. 5,515,203" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anyone can make this patent with a few simple objects!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>His next most famous patent is not as educational in use nor is it written in plain language in any part. Bill Nye, influenced by what I can only imagine, designed and invented a better toe shoe for ballet dancing en pointe. Patent nos. <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:be43386d-45fb-32b2-8d6b-0de425aef536" target="_blank">6,895,694</a> and <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:c9400cac-695d-33d4-af2c-59adc0dac69e" target="_blank">7,254,904</a> describe the improvement to the toe shoe that helps increase comfort and reduce injuries frequently incurred in this form of dance. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFikEMR5osLaL5w77gh3xcPleuGxiEjldAqABYL3qg9Qydu9ErfXpkZpQuvRM1p0ZHEtVp_MqdWqJ9LfjFLhpsL-TbR5utIvLC5c910N8ZJaKG9OffFybIsEVmojI1pv9OoLaZDpfnk_v5Sj_Tqn2WcrkqkxeHJSLFYIeFyvsvOihsbq3AXK-6jxtKraF/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-7254904-Toe%20Shoe.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A diagram of the improved toe shoe from US patent no. 7,254,904" border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFikEMR5osLaL5w77gh3xcPleuGxiEjldAqABYL3qg9Qydu9ErfXpkZpQuvRM1p0ZHEtVp_MqdWqJ9LfjFLhpsL-TbR5utIvLC5c910N8ZJaKG9OffFybIsEVmojI1pv9OoLaZDpfnk_v5Sj_Tqn2WcrkqkxeHJSLFYIeFyvsvOihsbq3AXK-6jxtKraF/w247-h320/Pages%20from%20US-7254904-Toe%20Shoe.jpg" title="A diagram of the improved toe shoe from US patent no. 7,254,904" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A better toe shoe<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I'd particularly like to learn if the new toe shoe became a more common model, or if everyone is waiting out the last few years of the patents' enforceable period to start mass producing it. Anyone up to some ballet shoe market research?<p></p><p>Later, Nye and co-inventor Steve Goucher patented a Throwing Technique Trainer (no. <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:b2197697-630f-3e6f-b27b-0402beecb9db" target="_blank">7,771,294</a>). Again, Nye's patent is aimed at helping reduce injuries related to specific functions. In this case, it is mostly focused on baseball, especially pitchers, who eventually have stress injuries from repeated, extreme motions. This training tool doesn't change that, but it does work on mitigating injuries resultant from sloppy or incorrect technique. An ounce of prevention, and all that. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5_LowW-T_i0WZYen89eGDWigTTGORAppyRfuAOSV7LQdU_Rh0jPrp4K4aTxCJ0YH-9UxdvEvNmhn20VxEQ9X3LhBXHf0CDPsLVPWiS7aIUy-GznXrL17jbqYAHFRJbx4X6NzbP0aq4meS7OPQvgh3Q6DYgatCuyU9CDHod82bcdHVIkiFgusfk2fck9B/s4920/Pages%20from%20US-7771294-Throwing%20Training.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of a drawing from US patent no. 7,771,294 Throwing Technique Trainer" border="0" data-original-height="4920" data-original-width="4293" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5_LowW-T_i0WZYen89eGDWigTTGORAppyRfuAOSV7LQdU_Rh0jPrp4K4aTxCJ0YH-9UxdvEvNmhn20VxEQ9X3LhBXHf0CDPsLVPWiS7aIUy-GznXrL17jbqYAHFRJbx4X6NzbP0aq4meS7OPQvgh3Q6DYgatCuyU9CDHod82bcdHVIkiFgusfk2fck9B/w279-h320/Pages%20from%20US-7771294-Throwing%20Training.jpg" title="An image of a drawing from US patent no. 7,771,294 Throwing Technique Trainer" width="279" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learn to throw a baseball correctly with Bill Nye<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Finally, there is a design patent no. <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:b2197697-630f-3e6f-b27b-0402beecb9db" target="_blank">D399,522</a> for a digital abacus that I'm 90% certain is also his; I feel like there can only be so many William S. Nyes who live in Seattle, and among those, just one who also likes to invent learning tools. It's a binary number-based abacus, which sounds challenging. He shares invention credit with William M. Pease, also of Seattle. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UVJc82k42SgTPILWsxs-n45FzTlnprO4tvOVS0pRPEXIx1tms42rCfW54HruiSWKm-JOzNMMFbtEH73HsA2DgAThrbMnkthHQrrmirNGyY3AqPJAvls_JpK_kbZh8xvxDi856lgdUfK7oIr-UutAJjsyTSgPxF9UxJfkTIaKj4fR8UgQBVuvASZtg60J/s5855/Pages%20from%20US-D399522-Digital%20Abacus.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of a diagram from US design patent 399,522 for a digital abacus" border="0" data-original-height="3054" data-original-width="5855" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UVJc82k42SgTPILWsxs-n45FzTlnprO4tvOVS0pRPEXIx1tms42rCfW54HruiSWKm-JOzNMMFbtEH73HsA2DgAThrbMnkthHQrrmirNGyY3AqPJAvls_JpK_kbZh8xvxDi856lgdUfK7oIr-UutAJjsyTSgPxF9UxJfkTIaKj4fR8UgQBVuvASZtg60J/w320-h167/Pages%20from%20US-D399522-Digital%20Abacus.jpg" title="An image of a diagram from US design patent 399,522 for a digital abacus" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Binary abacus, anyone?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">According to <a href="https://www.billnye.com/resources/Bill-Nye-bio-2018.pdf" target="_blank">the bio on his website</a>, I'm correct (phew!). </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, I'm off to fill a Ziploc<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span>® bag with water and create an Educational Lens.</span></span></span></div>
Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-563073382623670472023-10-31T11:16:00.000-05:002023-10-31T11:16:12.280-05:00Hey Gummy Guy!<p>Well if gummy treats are going to be a big deal this football season, then we better know about gummy IP. </p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/oaSA46aXT-U?si=WvX3TYEnKhK_pS99" target="_blank">Hey Gummy Guy</a>! Whose products are you handing out? Trolli? Let's see what we can find.<br /></p><p>We know that Trolli brand gummy worms are a big player in both the gummy world and Rice's football games. After all, he recently <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cy8rkRbuxeL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank">visited Fondren</a> before a game with some giveaways in a very prominently marked bag. As expected, there are MANY marks registered for Trolli, some for the candy itself, others for various marketing accoutrements like lip balm, clothing, backpacks, and other apparel. Though there seems to be more than one Trolli confection company, the mark that stands out most is designed word mark, familiar from recent video shots. It was submitted for examination, serial no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=97711266&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">97711266</a>, only just this September--though I know I've seen it in years past. Perhaps the actual appearance of the name Trolli was not previously considered important enough to register. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECgU6xam-6FJ00siW1VFM9gVl82wk-dqfvM0k4GbeYs4uu3pusZp-xsRUqs4n_TT2gblgqa_ARD8XoxCMRa87ShoHF0YnZ5MglnnuvoHklsSDNemJGuRH2pgu8iZF7bpyGlOEyIs1zzE8q94DgRyjfiPXrCNG2XwejCdWHWPR4qhqKENehREr72ATtry4/s320/Trolli%20designed%20word%20mark.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Word mark design image for the application for federal trademark registration, serial no. 97711266" border="0" data-original-height="232" data-original-width="320" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECgU6xam-6FJ00siW1VFM9gVl82wk-dqfvM0k4GbeYs4uu3pusZp-xsRUqs4n_TT2gblgqa_ARD8XoxCMRa87ShoHF0YnZ5MglnnuvoHklsSDNemJGuRH2pgu8iZF7bpyGlOEyIs1zzE8q94DgRyjfiPXrCNG2XwejCdWHWPR4qhqKENehREr72ATtry4/w320-h232/Trolli%20designed%20word%20mark.png" title="Word mark design image for the application for federal trademark registration, serial no. 97711266" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Currently being examined for federal registration, but...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>However, based on investigation of some of the other registered Trolli
candy marks, that may be due to some recent changes in ownership or
licensing. Another word mark, no design included, with registration no.
<a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73387672&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">1285440</a>, was first registered in 1984 and includes a specimen that contains a recognizable element: <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6Te50saugB9Uved5zEIRVfDmYnLDPAgSFe0knNb3tsE_NV_QxjJTypljAI7ZNZdnCx4UDHtSY2laFmkh2dJnwORdP9IjZZJ84W3geRfg7h6hFOwurYksc5kPpwTmquNbwMZNvTSrsBO-y7ZJrzSdrTZcHOg4pBF5KYJMLRaZqQkXy0ZPup9wr-HKY3IK/s904/Trolli%20specimen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Specimen image included in the TSDR file for federal trademark registration no. 1285440" border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="729" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6Te50saugB9Uved5zEIRVfDmYnLDPAgSFe0knNb3tsE_NV_QxjJTypljAI7ZNZdnCx4UDHtSY2laFmkh2dJnwORdP9IjZZJ84W3geRfg7h6hFOwurYksc5kPpwTmquNbwMZNvTSrsBO-y7ZJrzSdrTZcHOg4pBF5KYJMLRaZqQkXy0ZPup9wr-HKY3IK/w258-h320/Trolli%20specimen.jpg" title="Specimen image included in the TSDR file for federal trademark registration no. 1285440" width="258" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I see you, Trolli, and your registered symbol!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>That's definitely a familiar font, just like the one above.<p></p><p>A third contender's specimen even has a package of some truly familiar gummies I believe we might have seen in the YouTube video linked above, under registration no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=75251397&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">2140788</a>. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpJZvavrf55x2XV-L64OyL-M6B8t7A8KTO3TPDbD-vzqHERz-_olbGXQ6_tdk7ACMbNkTZUVALZrhCXRVKFsSpSuxjDP4VV6fmX27nMWwvxuEpocJEWyPipLXIHyNWXDDa66XYp3OpOiea6zbz3Tl5taECUYY-ByZv9eJzq7dl0YyB8qttui7DIWvyv6d/s2376/trolli%20caterpillars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Specimen image included in the TSDR file for federal trademark registration no. 2140788" border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="2376" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpJZvavrf55x2XV-L64OyL-M6B8t7A8KTO3TPDbD-vzqHERz-_olbGXQ6_tdk7ACMbNkTZUVALZrhCXRVKFsSpSuxjDP4VV6fmX27nMWwvxuEpocJEWyPipLXIHyNWXDDa66XYp3OpOiea6zbz3Tl5taECUYY-ByZv9eJzq7dl0YyB8qttui7DIWvyv6d/w320-h247/trolli%20caterpillars.jpg" title="Specimen image included in the TSDR file for federal trademark registration no. 2140788" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Technically, these are caterpillars, not worms<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Fun fact: There are still more companies that own this Trolli brand registrations. And they have the correct Trolli candy packaging appearance in their specimen files. <br /></p><p>I'm uncertain who actually owns this brand and the candy name. All three of the registrations lead to different company names and locations. But they must all be related--or there would be a likelihood of confusion problem! <br /></p><p>The parent company that has applied for the new word mark registration, Ferrara Candy Company, <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:f2c2c4b1-1c91-3587-a23f-ad524f5083aa" target="_blank">owns</a> <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:94e1be7e-8d4c-396a-8d0b-235a970c1d9f" target="_blank">several</a> <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:2e640474-647d-3645-a2f6-c691ad581d07" target="_blank">patents</a>.</p><p>The company name of Trolli did not find any assigned patents, and neither does the German firm, <span>Willy Mederer KG, which owns the mark for registration no. </span>1285440.</p><p>Maybe there's a lot of licensing for the name, and many people create a product? After all, the patents for Ferrara are only for designs of candy appearances and some candy/display boxes. <br /></p><p>Or maybe we should just enjoy our athletic gummy treats and not worry about relevant IP. <br /></p><p>LOL! Yeah right, IP is clearly never far from our minds, right? </p><p>...right? <br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-24508829463950847232023-10-30T09:19:00.001-05:002023-11-08T10:54:44.234-06:00Squishy Patents: Of Squishmallows and Squishables<p>In a <a href="https://ricepatinfo.blogspot.com/2023/10/different-squishes-squishmallows-vs.html" target="_blank">previous post</a> about plushes (Squishmallows vs. Squishables), I mentioned a potential future post investigating design patents for different squishes belonging to the parent companies.</p><p>It turned out to be a far more difficult task than anticipated. </p><p>In true librarian fashion, I was looking forward to some really complex search queries in Patent Public Search. For example:</p><p>((kelly WITH toys).as. OR jazwares.as.) AND plush AND D$.pn.</p><p>Unfortunately, that's not how things worked. I was forced to simplify my query multiple times and still had zero results. I resorted to searching "squishable" and "squishmallow". This was in no small part because the parent companies did not have any patents, or, in the case of Jazwares (Squishmallows), useless unrelated properties. [Although one might argue that <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:76f211d2-5d10-3ceb-bc0d-6176dcaabe54" target="_blank">this patent</a> for a social media system could be related to their Squishmallows marketing.] </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGC411XhjdrdDDCaDoq-uo-koyhyxyrIKy4tzWFe8CdY3DFTeSwRLsiabgAop_rXqw9RT_7pSTAvxzNk0-f4Fz-u6yKTwKtsnPFAU-mUZD66Ob584HZYbFtE5gn1s7Ttr41OEchr4ddGMavGf8iVbenBlqdKkZU3SPU2jEtRCGFpisifXs_jhpvzX43Z90/s5024/Pages%20from%20US-D634373-Scary%20toy%20from%20Jazwares.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image taken from Jazwares' patent D634,373 of a toy dog" border="0" data-original-height="5024" data-original-width="4368" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGC411XhjdrdDDCaDoq-uo-koyhyxyrIKy4tzWFe8CdY3DFTeSwRLsiabgAop_rXqw9RT_7pSTAvxzNk0-f4Fz-u6yKTwKtsnPFAU-mUZD66Ob584HZYbFtE5gn1s7Ttr41OEchr4ddGMavGf8iVbenBlqdKkZU3SPU2jEtRCGFpisifXs_jhpvzX43Z90/w278-h320/Pages%20from%20US-D634373-Scary%20toy%20from%20Jazwares.jpg" title="An image taken from Jazwares' patent D634,373 of a toy dog" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This dog thing in patent D634,373 from Jazwares <i>terrifies</i> me<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Somehow, these results were even more baffling. The only patents that reference Squishables or Squishmallows are owned by other entities. And they don't directly refer to the patented designs by the product names; those appear in the "other publications" section. <p></p><p>In the case of Squishmallows, when you visit the current version of the <a href="https://cedarpointonlineshop.com/collections/squishmallows" target="_blank">website</a> referenced by patent D994,050 or D995,661, the plushes shown are genuine Squishmallows. You can see the tags with the registered Squishmallow brand name.<br /></p><p>The Morey Organization, assignee to patents <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:9c8e8596-3af2-345e-82cb-7dd36ca9e728" target="_blank">D994,050</a> and <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:537f891b-a9f2-3f81-b6fa-e94878cee022" target="_blank">D995,661</a>, created a design based on Squishmallows and then cited that brand's plush (sold by a similar group). These two birds are much more articulated than most Squishmallows--significantly, legs attached to feet, not just pseudopod-like appendages--and have Morey Organization stitching, which makes them patentably unique, perhaps.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOi3QOPouJW93UkfO0uXxKJBtf7FPgw3c1M50iqf30Sk80IW11OxIHxvybu6lypTF2ZgamIZOLUee6zGvCm4bJ7rt35jevrsUgQ2O7MPkEWRSX652_qbO0h1YSax6D63r9SYgAb9EcBNF6Q0fYecnn9817AyXx_TAwPN_VtbV9YOO5W_aIdPxrdo-iwwK/s3178/Pages%20from%20US-D994050-Bird%20nonmallow-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of the design from Morey Organization's patent D994,050" border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="3178" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOi3QOPouJW93UkfO0uXxKJBtf7FPgw3c1M50iqf30Sk80IW11OxIHxvybu6lypTF2ZgamIZOLUee6zGvCm4bJ7rt35jevrsUgQ2O7MPkEWRSX652_qbO0h1YSax6D63r9SYgAb9EcBNF6Q0fYecnn9817AyXx_TAwPN_VtbV9YOO5W_aIdPxrdo-iwwK/w320-h157/Pages%20from%20US-D994050-Bird%20nonmallow-1.jpg" title="An image of a plush bird of the design from Morey Organization's patent D994,050" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird squish, non-mallow<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>In the case of Squishables, the patents are similarly for products from non-Squishable entities that cite <a href="https://www.vat19.com/product/index/productID/squishables#!" target="_blank">genuine Squishables</a> (maybe?) in the "other publications". I've mentioned Ontel products before (see the <a href="https://ricepatinfo.blogspot.com/2023/08/inventions-for-cats.html" target="_blank">cat inventions post</a>) and I know they aren't associated with the Squishable brand. The critters in patents <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:02de14f9-940b-3c46-a69a-a4e8bd5ef252" target="_blank">D855,708</a> and <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:8c4d887d-f810-377f-8076-707f46e90f89" target="_blank">D857,122</a> have features not seen in Squishables (the same zipper on the back noticed in the cat post). <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsvh9xFTqNo8cMq9OlexydnWBSYnijBnCvziAl-b28S6aJEcQ1zh8jloLjjDa-isNTRe-V36SJdIkeqsJu31r9RtuA8Bp4e385VIVQ_TMzl944dmmdUDZczsd2K7z6-pfT0ISR5vv0kV1jhUNv2gwv0RxTF3BbpDYEyjPwQ1wLL_IHp0sGkGeYj0QO2G7/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-D855708-Ontel%20Squishable%20Panda.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of the design from Ontel's patent D855,708" border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5101" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsvh9xFTqNo8cMq9OlexydnWBSYnijBnCvziAl-b28S6aJEcQ1zh8jloLjjDa-isNTRe-V36SJdIkeqsJu31r9RtuA8Bp4e385VIVQ_TMzl944dmmdUDZczsd2K7z6-pfT0ISR5vv0kV1jhUNv2gwv0RxTF3BbpDYEyjPwQ1wLL_IHp0sGkGeYj0QO2G7/w247-h320/Pages%20from%20US-D855708-Ontel%20Squishable%20Panda.jpg" title="An image of the plush panda design from Ontel's patent D855,708" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But why does it have a zipper?!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>To me, these patents aren't just squishy in terms of the items. They feel intellectually and commercially squishy. <p></p><p>It seems as though Squishables and Squishmallows have neglected to patent any of their designs. Perhaps it is why both lines seem to have several similar plushes, and so many more similar products seem to exist.<br /></p><p>However, I think I can tell the difference between the brands; and at the very least I know there are various brands.<br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-79448214035748027872023-10-23T10:38:00.001-05:002023-10-23T10:38:03.891-05:00ChatGPT: Useful At Last<p>Y'all, I finally found a use for ChatGPT (and other similar LLMs) in my work.</p><p>Have you ever read a patent, and felt like it wasn't written in English? Even if you know something about the field, it just doesn't seem to communicate concepts in a way most humans can understand.</p><p>I've spent a lot of time trying to read and understand patents, and I've spent a lot of that time not understanding what I am reading. Even some of the simpler inventions I've shared--like the cat tree in <a href="https://ricepatinfo.blogspot.com/2023/08/inventions-for-cats.html" target="_blank">this post</a>--may have sections difficult to comprehend. </p><p>Well, for my third post on ChatGPT (and other LLM AIs), I can tell you it has finally helped me in a significant way: ChatGPT will explain a patent to you in simple, plain English. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXrxB0XCXcD_YlYeParaslEgT4ddIxAn50BU_yqV_zht1AplcZ0FDgQok1LTn9VR9WGs8Vo5A3nO15oADx1lXy5gLj4mUtQ0XA5gUSdpvxVN1VAhClQSvMYrTgj-FMo5uPJ7oXhyphenhyphen01bDhEMWl54DUt2YCs5MVSG5lonE3kEPfVbebZUrSzTkjgx29GNKT/s624/Start%20of%20request%20to%20GPT.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of an interaction with ChatGPT requesting an explanation of a patent" border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="624" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXrxB0XCXcD_YlYeParaslEgT4ddIxAn50BU_yqV_zht1AplcZ0FDgQok1LTn9VR9WGs8Vo5A3nO15oADx1lXy5gLj4mUtQ0XA5gUSdpvxVN1VAhClQSvMYrTgj-FMo5uPJ7oXhyphenhyphen01bDhEMWl54DUt2YCs5MVSG5lonE3kEPfVbebZUrSzTkjgx29GNKT/w320-h158/Start%20of%20request%20to%20GPT.png" title="An image of an interaction with ChatGPT requesting an explanation of a patent" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Requesting an explanation<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRReaFx3VmryvQIF3hd_dbeyert7hcIVHdsRyf9KxcplNbIq8J5YP4DJr02xDfifdLhvGBlycBYvO9EiBEXQYN4FSLYqCPumv9X1tPCZLYWfCFlGncb2_O-PVPE4WhDfL2XUxM2UzGAwz4L3IHKO2HWE5nf0s9r-d4dqP8wrk7Soynz5O1OzXlKwm_qTK/s624/Explanation%20by%20GPT.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of an interaction with ChatGPT showing most of an explanation of a patent" border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="624" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRReaFx3VmryvQIF3hd_dbeyert7hcIVHdsRyf9KxcplNbIq8J5YP4DJr02xDfifdLhvGBlycBYvO9EiBEXQYN4FSLYqCPumv9X1tPCZLYWfCFlGncb2_O-PVPE4WhDfL2XUxM2UzGAwz4L3IHKO2HWE5nf0s9r-d4dqP8wrk7Soynz5O1OzXlKwm_qTK/w320-h212/Explanation%20by%20GPT.png" title="An image of an interaction with ChatGPT showing most of an explanation of a patent" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the explanation provided<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Of course, significant limitations should be applied. If you provide a patent number to the free, historical info-only version of ChatGPT, chances are it will tell you about the wrong patent. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9aNDG0e6D4pfa4g9SU5eSrCDC59jn4R5iPmk7dILOyjHWcCBUDKJzYXF-hHvy3D7nHevU4VkEdsNDRPhG4zEvvv6maCEqekE6-SxUVMBQlluThDHQpi5oKYXVHkJLcpRbBJ5zgMWo764BQRsGBBV1jfJ-AggwPXgkDd7yimFumkCvLOqqesoDNu_33Wy/s624/Wrong%20Patent.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of an interaction with ChatGPT that returned an explanation of a different patent" border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="624" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9aNDG0e6D4pfa4g9SU5eSrCDC59jn4R5iPmk7dILOyjHWcCBUDKJzYXF-hHvy3D7nHevU4VkEdsNDRPhG4zEvvv6maCEqekE6-SxUVMBQlluThDHQpi5oKYXVHkJLcpRbBJ5zgMWo764BQRsGBBV1jfJ-AggwPXgkDd7yimFumkCvLOqqesoDNu_33Wy/w320-h288/Wrong%20Patent.png" title="An image of an interaction with ChatGPT that returned an explanation of a different patent" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for explaining something else<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>And if the text you copy from a patent into the text entry box is too long to get around that, it will cause an error and not be able to respond. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4nAw7Tf_RYSpjP9_s9UXmZ84zzdOH_mlIrAXinnl7nRYqmr0qjKfBh_aYU1PrySYv4qtedstn4EmHWT44bksHsdD-LVMF9yH8Uz2E5tqB_VmX8ApB2NsPPJiHmb4rdmYf4aBFsHUAZ6Q0RQwNgBv2Up-CEYTlG_e-e2IwM3ymSKrGpO_VKXveCeZx95p/s624/Too%20much%20text.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of an interaction with ChatGPT that resulted in an error due to too much text" border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="624" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4nAw7Tf_RYSpjP9_s9UXmZ84zzdOH_mlIrAXinnl7nRYqmr0qjKfBh_aYU1PrySYv4qtedstn4EmHWT44bksHsdD-LVMF9yH8Uz2E5tqB_VmX8ApB2NsPPJiHmb4rdmYf4aBFsHUAZ6Q0RQwNgBv2Up-CEYTlG_e-e2IwM3ymSKrGpO_VKXveCeZx95p/w320-h153/Too%20much%20text.png" title="An image of an interaction with ChatGPT that resulted in an error due to too much text" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm uncertain what amount of text is too much<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>But the live info-version of ChatGPT that powers Bing Chat Enterprise did provide a good explanation for Rice's most recent patent, <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:1aca2dcf-f4ab-3167-ad34-1658470d0d07" target="_blank">US 11,767,291</a> "Preparation of Secondary Amines with Electrophilic N-Linchpin Reagents", without me needing to copy and paste the patent's text. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUO4df-GZ7I5lZvTKwOAnSNZ8CGCJlkRN9v5iXsaK3YZxuQT1HdxEHx-ka6vKHaCFbl0otPY7lpj3i1x0f8V3BJKXpOTf0y4Huf29uT4-VqEoBPgAQH6dS_Ge4vfmRwSjv8xCA4CvfropgZHjbNKA5jCSubQmwns7rbjvEPncKEZSneqvUuYvRv9zAkRB/s624/Bing%20Explains%20It.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An interaction with Bing Chat Enterprise that resulted in a good explanation of a patent" border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="624" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUO4df-GZ7I5lZvTKwOAnSNZ8CGCJlkRN9v5iXsaK3YZxuQT1HdxEHx-ka6vKHaCFbl0otPY7lpj3i1x0f8V3BJKXpOTf0y4Huf29uT4-VqEoBPgAQH6dS_Ge4vfmRwSjv8xCA4CvfropgZHjbNKA5jCSubQmwns7rbjvEPncKEZSneqvUuYvRv9zAkRB/w320-h185/Bing%20Explains%20It.png" title="An interaction with Bing Chat Enterprise that resulted in a good explanation of a patent" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a really good explanation that included molecule diagrams!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I have found that just asking for info about a patent, or providing just a number or a title, can lead to some incorrect information. So if you want accuracy, pasting sections of text or specifying patent number, title, and maybe even more might be best. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kckQFXB_zavFL5VkQ7Fr9X7AGi-iOj7uQiXTozVSaWzcfc9noWXqb4lr8Yp4YNp_WNbLyP8MXw9z-8z9nMqAURaHkTm0eyFXU6zDGLkUvEIZqby14ayoxYMpQHMPAt8bX6n2vdsyowlWVpQPSNO9f_QwUpderSDWctIrlWLd5a1aYOszA566W_qHxVyL/s624/Bing%20Chat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of an interaction with Bing Chat Enterprise showing the AI's decision to close a conversational thread following multiple errors" border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="624" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kckQFXB_zavFL5VkQ7Fr9X7AGi-iOj7uQiXTozVSaWzcfc9noWXqb4lr8Yp4YNp_WNbLyP8MXw9z-8z9nMqAURaHkTm0eyFXU6zDGLkUvEIZqby14ayoxYMpQHMPAt8bX6n2vdsyowlWVpQPSNO9f_QwUpderSDWctIrlWLd5a1aYOszA566W_qHxVyL/w320-h184/Bing%20Chat.png" title="An image of an interaction with Bing Chat Enterprise showing the AI's decision to close a conversational thread following multiple errors" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bing decided it didn't want to deal with my corrections<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oxWsO3ToV1XOgsK9oq1fGyw0RldObXKkd7dFmKvLLoX6DYLoa1B2hV-atykwJx0w1P44WX88abtXkBJik3AF8i_H-S2rEY3AnSqeyf9GITmJ7nMT80J4qpr5sTQF0ko_9R0kERLbXVbv2zNM6NcHr4hpK9HHHlgVFT_2pc_bbWHFQrzYcs76LVgPGCje/s624/Bing%20explains%20but%20has%20fake%20link.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of an interaction with Bing Chat Enterprise that shows an explanation of a patent but includes a link without the linking ability" border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="624" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oxWsO3ToV1XOgsK9oq1fGyw0RldObXKkd7dFmKvLLoX6DYLoa1B2hV-atykwJx0w1P44WX88abtXkBJik3AF8i_H-S2rEY3AnSqeyf9GITmJ7nMT80J4qpr5sTQF0ko_9R0kERLbXVbv2zNM6NcHr4hpK9HHHlgVFT_2pc_bbWHFQrzYcs76LVgPGCje/w320-h199/Bing%20explains%20but%20has%20fake%20link.png" title="An image of an interaction with Bing Chat Enterprise that shows an explanation of a patent but includes a link without the linking ability" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You might also get a "link" that is just plain text<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Oh, and you have to use Microsoft Edge to access Bing Chat. Not my preferred internet browser.<br /></p><p>But even with these somewhat significant drawbacks, at least I got an explanation for what all these embodiments and disclosures really mean.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-25067957843566637912023-10-10T10:31:00.002-05:002023-10-10T10:31:49.150-05:00Different Squishes?! Squishmallows vs. Squishables<p>If you read my previous post, you might recall that I mentioned Squishmallows, which are immensely popular plushes (see recent O-Week themes). As it turns out, during my writing process, I confused Squishmallows with Squishables, which are a similar product from a different company. In an initial draft I linked to the wrong website, and
was uncertain why the exact PSL plush I was looking for didn't
appear. Thankfully, a more knowledgeable friend helped me
find the correct reference and website. </p><p>This got me thinking about the IP aspects of the squishies, in particular trademarks. Since these companies are almost certainly in direct competition, it makes sense that they would want to protect their products when possible. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenIRyCleIlYMoDXaZ1a0D2A3JYTXqo6Crjo3qYhBvhuiCD8TWxApyKr7jnrL9A-Rg4BrYfjOApsEvHLwX0tWn18Y56P-Ub8nr9D9BPjIzKk4aaPeD95LOcj5iZdTJAuaGO888n4oEIdj6oydxKzjgsMil4jCl5bxv6jsWYN1c77bUOJbOIdGEqWyO2Nxd/s2376/Squishmallow%20Toy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2376" data-original-width="1836" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenIRyCleIlYMoDXaZ1a0D2A3JYTXqo6Crjo3qYhBvhuiCD8TWxApyKr7jnrL9A-Rg4BrYfjOApsEvHLwX0tWn18Y56P-Ub8nr9D9BPjIzKk4aaPeD95LOcj5iZdTJAuaGO888n4oEIdj6oydxKzjgsMil4jCl5bxv6jsWYN1c77bUOJbOIdGEqWyO2Nxd/s320/Squishmallow%20Toy.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a Squishmallow<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiZtcDGNyw8zRio4_0aaQGM1azCjxkTmH8SLiFt4FpwVsZp5rXyzvkpYIuQB450iMaT9sZHISn_8MUpGXCKmNWAgK3CbTIkopdYfuzGExE3iVmpe5NmythXft5kqW2uQ8gcrlk3PLiE_1zR9dRmZUiLqBik9EuGB5cJa7uMF1XZH5wAfwpPbafUe6uI_1/s600/Squishable.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiZtcDGNyw8zRio4_0aaQGM1azCjxkTmH8SLiFt4FpwVsZp5rXyzvkpYIuQB450iMaT9sZHISn_8MUpGXCKmNWAgK3CbTIkopdYfuzGExE3iVmpe5NmythXft5kqW2uQ8gcrlk3PLiE_1zR9dRmZUiLqBik9EuGB5cJa7uMF1XZH5wAfwpPbafUe6uI_1/s320/Squishable.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is a Squishable<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I clearly do not know the difference between them, since I had no idea they were different products. But perhaps learning about IP will help me! Besides, I could <i>really </i>use some practice with the <a href="https://beta-tmsearch.uspto.gov/search/search-information" target="_blank">New Trademark Search</a>.<p></p><p>Oh my gosh are there a LOT of registered marks for Squishmallows! Just the word mark alone has some 27 registrations. Of those, two are for the actual plush toys, nos. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=87319831&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">5454574</a> and <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=88982062&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">6457232</a>. There is another in the application process, serial no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=97735837&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">97735837</a>, but it's not associated with the same company. None of the marks with plush goods have a specific appearance. Those are either for games or Christmas ornaments (serial nos. 90676140 and 90676105) but they include the word "original". </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDI2tycvIM3qbwNgkHNrBLrZY42Bs38ztvM8p8M4A6a0jz8j8RofAdNxkrH6kAdu6qBS-V9zkJeoMXC8L1lsqBFR3h3GB8CKyAhruJOQzRuDwyPGrUoOjjvqV7jdcn170SnJfKbUpM-ZflwYRcFaHxcx1ZLyvRj1CQTylfy2Mw0rPBOMXPrvwoS30WPk2/s900/Original%20Squishmallows%2090676105.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="900" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDI2tycvIM3qbwNgkHNrBLrZY42Bs38ztvM8p8M4A6a0jz8j8RofAdNxkrH6kAdu6qBS-V9zkJeoMXC8L1lsqBFR3h3GB8CKyAhruJOQzRuDwyPGrUoOjjvqV7jdcn170SnJfKbUpM-ZflwYRcFaHxcx1ZLyvRj1CQTylfy2Mw0rPBOMXPrvwoS30WPk2/s320/Original%20Squishmallows%2090676105.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serial no. 90676105, but not for the plush<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZpWF8PaSlXkwLdXy53AyD5fLEtnvMvOSrUOnJjnyTOr3KBrlMi-PnrhcZAlfmvZ-1egvJKGCLnbWjyi_ByP2seQ_Ba6M-VgO-ercYMNq4PyqOEbbnl8JrO535xLC_5qcShnqlaP3EC3xGoO5W4NIGeBkriTmv4pyVye6-ynRmoZRfPkYsQ8h16ocNSNI/s900/Original%20Squishmallows%2090676140.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="900" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZpWF8PaSlXkwLdXy53AyD5fLEtnvMvOSrUOnJjnyTOr3KBrlMi-PnrhcZAlfmvZ-1egvJKGCLnbWjyi_ByP2seQ_Ba6M-VgO-ercYMNq4PyqOEbbnl8JrO535xLC_5qcShnqlaP3EC3xGoO5W4NIGeBkriTmv4pyVye6-ynRmoZRfPkYsQ8h16ocNSNI/s320/Original%20Squishmallows%2090676140.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serial no. 90676140, also not for plush<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>One Squishmallow mark that is kind of an image and for plush toys is Squishmail (also a <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=90980134&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">word mark</a> under a different serial number). Unfortunately, the Squishmails do not have a promising future, as the company that owns Squishmallows, Kelly Toys, is appealing a final refusal for registration. It worked out in other jurisdictions, as the <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=90980136&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">TSDR record</a> shows an international registration, no. <a class="jsLink">1652225 (same for the word mark). <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMQ9NNAO8i-Ab4zK-8SVOHeLFCdoKJ-wq-K_9przyQ_RBbTFbYVw7_REV4gHfq-masSIEpqv2mOOd3807piHjpK0rfBkcdSfaxUijpG5AbbTHbTdSp1TaahYx3sZiC7jfGXX710ixNAQ7e787eZsTWvJ-pctjIlVA8HqoF3re7SIEHuUoOgDCb4vPX2TB/s900/Squishmail.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="900" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMQ9NNAO8i-Ab4zK-8SVOHeLFCdoKJ-wq-K_9przyQ_RBbTFbYVw7_REV4gHfq-masSIEpqv2mOOd3807piHjpK0rfBkcdSfaxUijpG5AbbTHbTdSp1TaahYx3sZiC7jfGXX710ixNAQ7e787eZsTWvJ-pctjIlVA8HqoF3re7SIEHuUoOgDCb4vPX2TB/s320/Squishmail.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have no idea what this is, but its cute<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></a>Squishables has their own set of trademarks, if fewer. They've protected certain aspects of different plush toy lines, which I found interesting. For example, Squishable GO! (registration no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=90476801&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">6580804</a>) is specifically for vehicles like dump trucks, fire trucks, or trains. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnurVvRaWITA2y240XxyGFNHjYSzTsIWNpCIzmdH-ecLlKINCCIMxK1-o4FWPnTYcPqA3ai-_Fl4x-IwLd5wT7amblovpqvxsmfOgK1l3CwB2OsF_sBLVnLjWZQUMYJM1IJGrCykK591-jM7HImThz4PwRVVMnrUabw07d5Xls7-4NDmD_6qv6PQMH8o3/s835/Squishable%20GO.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="835" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnurVvRaWITA2y240XxyGFNHjYSzTsIWNpCIzmdH-ecLlKINCCIMxK1-o4FWPnTYcPqA3ai-_Fl4x-IwLd5wT7amblovpqvxsmfOgK1l3CwB2OsF_sBLVnLjWZQUMYJM1IJGrCykK591-jM7HImThz4PwRVVMnrUabw07d5Xls7-4NDmD_6qv6PQMH8o3/s320/Squishable%20GO.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For your vehicular plush<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>These seem made to appeal to a very young audience, which contrasts with other Squishables that are likely to appeal to only adults or near adults. What plush might that be, you ask?<p>Well, one is the line of Boozy Buds, which has both the basic word mark (registration no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=90235743&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">6457777</a>) and a design version (registration no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=90235773&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">6457778</a>), and consists of plush alcoholic beverages. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKGwCOorWUQgUKmsF6je296EujSBQzL29yhJbuDcOz1AxRQugRJTEZy6zgzjKuPk-1UQ8ZI73RG6VS9WhpuQmttEmRfratZ8NbQ54IJyAautu26Ln9xUaqJP6fSgi1-Uy3iyShh62hyVPW58KhOb1ipcF812qPhRrfVNc6C7HSvf8KyFFiiG0r_mzwkDM/s974/Boozy%20Bud%20Drink.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="974" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKGwCOorWUQgUKmsF6je296EujSBQzL29yhJbuDcOz1AxRQugRJTEZy6zgzjKuPk-1UQ8ZI73RG6VS9WhpuQmttEmRfratZ8NbQ54IJyAautu26Ln9xUaqJP6fSgi1-Uy3iyShh62hyVPW58KhOb1ipcF812qPhRrfVNc6C7HSvf8KyFFiiG0r_mzwkDM/w200-h111/Boozy%20Bud%20Drink.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Boozy Bud, probably a Bloody Mary<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XyrvYSGx0zzPE1DPlOd4xYdLRZCnZZ6Xhhowjy-TPf03iMsyi51LUbaNN_SEtLlePOCXqcWQPhOF7aGMXsed1MXUyUg0NqIN-ViESRt7sjs7WAMAtrGKqAYZpm2mYGWT7es011PbsHpCHBzawdn1yqtDL8NICwkRAqpFq0AIPC8xA0_rFyYQdWh6cpf1/s1161/Boozy%20Buds.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1161" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XyrvYSGx0zzPE1DPlOd4xYdLRZCnZZ6Xhhowjy-TPf03iMsyi51LUbaNN_SEtLlePOCXqcWQPhOF7aGMXsed1MXUyUg0NqIN-ViESRt7sjs7WAMAtrGKqAYZpm2mYGWT7es011PbsHpCHBzawdn1yqtDL8NICwkRAqpFq0AIPC8xA0_rFyYQdWh6cpf1/w200-h141/Boozy%20Buds.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The actual trademarked Boozy Buds design<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Another is The Mysterious Doctor Plague line, which also has a basic word mark (registration no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=90199730&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">6457715</a>) and a designed word mark (registration no. <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=90199753&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">6457716</a>). <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdFaT3Ai0RXKMrNfTYvatHFectyoWIIEzZ5OClk7XNwveZqfOwFS7J9tUzhHiPsvFNiC-hTmSguLs1xzMsoIG1YVBuSkUHhQsW1WSOuRUoLjAmVWQJnAU-MujcJPxMxP43Ie6g4anBFsQjHVZzV6L5y1DbWsxukrjd_0xUrGhmgaqeq1xIBZWjdHq9jja/s524/Plague%20Doctor%20Site.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="524" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdFaT3Ai0RXKMrNfTYvatHFectyoWIIEzZ5OClk7XNwveZqfOwFS7J9tUzhHiPsvFNiC-hTmSguLs1xzMsoIG1YVBuSkUHhQsW1WSOuRUoLjAmVWQJnAU-MujcJPxMxP43Ie6g4anBFsQjHVZzV6L5y1DbWsxukrjd_0xUrGhmgaqeq1xIBZWjdHq9jja/w320-h109/Plague%20Doctor%20Site.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This specimen displays both the trademarked font design and the relevant plush<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Both of those are clearly intended for a more mature audience.<p>Of course, the trademark doesn't stop Squishmallows from making their own <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Squishmallows-Aldron-Plague-Doctor-Collectible/dp/B0C6R3B3D6?ref_=ast_sto_dp" target="_blank">plague doctor</a> plush; I heard that it came out after the Squishable version. It just stops them from infringing on the use of the word mark or the designed words in reference to plush toys. Since this one is named Aldron the Plague Doctor, it seems to go unchallenged.</p><p>Finally, it appears that Squishables were around first. Or their trademarks were filed first--to the best of my searching knowledge. More research into the companies and dead trademarks would be required.<br /></p><p>In conclusion, I've learned a lot about the extensive number of Squishie registrations, but I didn't learn much about how they're different--but I can tell the names apart now and I definitely understand the different parent companies. Just don't ask me to buy a specific plush, I'm sure I'd mess that up.</p><p>Perhaps I should take a look at design patents? Hmmm...<br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-84906183621773590952023-10-04T16:15:00.003-05:002023-10-04T16:15:54.093-05:00'Tis the (Pumpkin Spice) Season<p>Ah, pumpkin spice! Every fall, this flavor takes over everything, growing annually from fairly humble beginnings. Pumpkin spice has gone from flavoring the original pumpkin spice latte (PSL) to a wide range of food and beverages, even appearing on cleaners, cosmetics, and more. There's a Squishmallow <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Squishmallow-14-Inch-Style-23/dp/B09NB2B53B?ref_=ast_sto_dp" target="_blank">Pumpkin Spice Latte</a> (Squishmallows are large, squishy, adorable stuffed... well, not animals in this case). <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRZccqIXHh84Wu7fAM6mu6IMovLeXqeSOU0F3hHdKr6c5c4RQTWa5pLXRmEYgdJ3oRBT3mp7ji0CQg58TFNbaop4JJw5wG4zfMbJBvShdCk1bGxfXVcjUGssL0RhXTe87QrHMgWjpjH2h70RME2jX1uKGzjyoelDn1qczqwPQg6cCYvec7PTeIk8i_Vij/s618/501447f4fabd7e9d1abadd3ad6cfd23e-sticker.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A digital sticker image of the Pumpkin Spice Latte plush from Squishmallows" border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="618" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRZccqIXHh84Wu7fAM6mu6IMovLeXqeSOU0F3hHdKr6c5c4RQTWa5pLXRmEYgdJ3oRBT3mp7ji0CQg58TFNbaop4JJw5wG4zfMbJBvShdCk1bGxfXVcjUGssL0RhXTe87QrHMgWjpjH2h70RME2jX1uKGzjyoelDn1qczqwPQg6cCYvec7PTeIk8i_Vij/w200-h200/501447f4fabd7e9d1abadd3ad6cfd23e-sticker.png" title="A digital sticker image of the Pumpkin Spice Latte plush from Squishmallows" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squishmallows: tasty, very round plush<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>But does anyone own pumpkin spice? Or some aspects of it?</p><p>Yes. There are lots of owned instances of pumpkin spice. A very basic search of the USPTO's newly released beta <a href="https://beta-tmsearch.uspto.gov/search/search-information" target="_blank">Trademark Search</a> shows 32 results. Many are dead or abandoned; 9 are not immediately obvious matches; and the use of pumpkin spice varies for types of products and how much of the mark it comprises. I, for one, am glad that someone has decided to abandon some kind of pumpkin spice athletic or sports event service; it sounds like a bad pairing. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFBEQQrcU_a2CwksmwndUL3Jrb6u0AcuVDqJYXOGWOIrq9EZMnlALXRWDXnbU-7tJZHeeOpm3P4BZuDv4d2zeKMzN5F1niIZxobriDgFNmpa2o1zKxKE3pjFInDqwDelKCDSkB3oGCpSTQaJIfyAc950O8ru1Ex-54Leal3ixLToBZQGDY1CZyDOMyLW1/s544/PSL%20Race.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Screenshot of a record from Trademark Search for a pumpkin spice athletic event" border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="544" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFBEQQrcU_a2CwksmwndUL3Jrb6u0AcuVDqJYXOGWOIrq9EZMnlALXRWDXnbU-7tJZHeeOpm3P4BZuDv4d2zeKMzN5F1niIZxobriDgFNmpa2o1zKxKE3pjFInDqwDelKCDSkB3oGCpSTQaJIfyAc950O8ru1Ex-54Leal3ixLToBZQGDY1CZyDOMyLW1/w320-h227/PSL%20Race.png" title="Screenshot of a record from Trademark Search for a pumpkin spice athletic event" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WHY?? Who thought it was a good idea?!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Among the pumpkin spice lawyers, martinis, cappuccinos, muffins, ales, armies and milks, I first found a single instance of a registered pumpkin spice latte. And yet, it's for bar soaps. I suppose the pumpkin spice alone wasn't enough, they needed to add a little milk and coffee to the mix for a truly pleasing bar soap... flavor? Read more about this particular instance in the <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=90336903&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">TSDR entry</a> for registration no. 6,468,895. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4XMRBI26cG-pl0YGE9oHD_nGvZnJ1hz6lPXkENnw_iYijHnCEM64uf_JDHExE3xYfPPeoGBI6pD0dzMVy7cpHciMFWK-48-0iC5L4BHD_Y0YW6TeYkIO0_RN5mVBH8AdNO23nObVuOkbxKLFeUXjdostxWw9J8oL05HHjZdr6N7mPjS6X5p4DcjgQ7eI/s535/PSL.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Screenshot of a record from Trademark Search for a pumpkin spice latte bar soap" border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="535" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4XMRBI26cG-pl0YGE9oHD_nGvZnJ1hz6lPXkENnw_iYijHnCEM64uf_JDHExE3xYfPPeoGBI6pD0dzMVy7cpHciMFWK-48-0iC5L4BHD_Y0YW6TeYkIO0_RN5mVBH8AdNO23nObVuOkbxKLFeUXjdostxWw9J8oL05HHjZdr6N7mPjS6X5p4DcjgQ7eI/w320-h225/PSL.png" title="Screenshot of a record from Trademark Search for a pumpkin spice latte bar soap" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious, delicious soap<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The next closest was the <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=88178158&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch" target="_blank">Pumpkin Spice Latte Run</a>. It's not quite the same as a pumpkin spice athletic event, but it still brought up a few questions. For example, how popular is a running event related to pumpkin spice lattes? After I drink a PSL, I am in no mood to go running, it's a dessert drink. Even if you run before having the beverage, the pairing still makes little sense to me. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwkT_4XUIVitFNyrxw44eM1Qrc0COsssrmKEOL1cJQuBR0dztTsU9171s0SOcA7lMOjJ22tFt891gdiJkXIOFxl9hyphenhyphen9Frun3XYVppy4eIDkwmYhJY6e0DQFfgdlGbOHjPUTBKKjG0wPYw9qPgrzmReUnBVKmx4uiQ2IDIaXWgzym30xq63PWpHUa6y15G/s535/PSL%20Run.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Screenshot of a record from Trademark Search for a pumpkin spice latte run" border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="535" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwkT_4XUIVitFNyrxw44eM1Qrc0COsssrmKEOL1cJQuBR0dztTsU9171s0SOcA7lMOjJ22tFt891gdiJkXIOFxl9hyphenhyphen9Frun3XYVppy4eIDkwmYhJY6e0DQFfgdlGbOHjPUTBKKjG0wPYw9qPgrzmReUnBVKmx4uiQ2IDIaXWgzym30xq63PWpHUa6y15G/w320-h225/PSL%20Run.png" title="Screenshot of a record from Trademark Search for a pumpkin spice latte run" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't drink dessert and dash<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>A little further investigation reveals that the purpose is to register for the event, run any 5K, and then earn some rewards, which are all PSL related. If you've ever participated in a PSL Run, you'll have to explain it to me in the comments. </p><p>...And that's it. I'm honestly a little disappointed to learn that there is so little ownership of PSL on the trademarks side of things. Perhaps I should have looked more at patents, but I imagine that would be even less successful. </p><p>Enjoy your PSL while you can. I had a little PSL flavored creamer in my coffee this morning, which I never do, just to get psyched up for this blog entry. Perhaps I'll even splurge on some other PSL product. Recommend the best non-coffee confections! <br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-28077033946790305762023-09-25T14:59:00.002-05:002023-10-10T11:48:49.949-05:00Less Famous Inventions of Famous Inventors<p>There are a few inventors and their inventions that most people recognize. But usually these famous individuals claim many innovations, some of which have been largely ignored or even forgotten by the general population.</p><p>For example, probably the most famous inventor in America, Thomas Edison, is known for his electric lights, recording devices, electric transportation, and developing solutions to create a community-wide electric grid. He had more patents than any other person for decades, listed as an inventor (some joint) on 1,093 in the US alone.</p><p>One of those less frequently cited was for an electric vote recorder. Edison's "Electrographic Vote Recorder and Register" was issued <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:2f8870cd-a4c6-339c-b591-024bc6fa0214" target="_blank">patent no. 90,646</a> in June, 1869, years before his most illuminating (ha-ha) invention. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqmSucpsgXxOU7ZEIFusxKwZW9ypxwO_gCJTluVmhad6jcc2blXwhFxy3S0oNBYkbMXGK_gkTqwWtjpqVglKoyICosss8_a9E-PVd0PmGvbkcXPwR_0vRCc8QaZwl8RLID1R3CHNA5m_fwiJkkTshmY8JSmLQ-ZDvF6mZfFsFlhdP2qhusSTHQxeiBfu0/s4603/Pages%20from%20US-0090646-Edison%20Vote%20Recorder.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4603" data-original-width="3385" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqmSucpsgXxOU7ZEIFusxKwZW9ypxwO_gCJTluVmhad6jcc2blXwhFxy3S0oNBYkbMXGK_gkTqwWtjpqVglKoyICosss8_a9E-PVd0PmGvbkcXPwR_0vRCc8QaZwl8RLID1R3CHNA5m_fwiJkkTshmY8JSmLQ-ZDvF6mZfFsFlhdP2qhusSTHQxeiBfu0/s320/Pages%20from%20US-0090646-Edison%20Vote%20Recorder.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edison's Electric Elections<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Of course, Edison was known for being a fairly unpleasant person, and unfairly competing with contemporaries.</p><p>One such contemporary he maligned is another of America's greatest inventors, Alexander Graham Bell. You most likely know him as the inventor of the telephone. Bell invented and patented the device that would one day morph into today's ubiquitous, hand-held computer-inclusive smart phone in 1876.</p><p>Less influential and well-remembered is the "Aerial Vehicle", <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:7eebc7d2-9b74-3eb5-a7db-e89f8b606f85" target="_blank">patent no. 757,012</a>, of April 1904. It isn't sufficient to carry a person, and functions more as a kite, but clearly the interest of inventors had pivoted from communications and power to new transportation by the 20th century. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD055azvmWSuL7oR8MHil9IsQJB4PQSwkv2KdTY9NClolSMGkAoDQBHAKm3BEUMhD6mXPzxLxwQEtynhbZRKZV-yRDr-Ul3k4ZN1_Vqv4f0lNz7PG_nAhVeGpNZA2tdOTCSrMcGK1OxJO6sdfdyO-I3ds7orlctVTVz1SUbKUGK6dD-WIpXm1Oy7weneJi/s3953/Pages%20from%20US-0757012-Bell%20Aerial%20Vehicle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3108" data-original-width="3953" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD055azvmWSuL7oR8MHil9IsQJB4PQSwkv2KdTY9NClolSMGkAoDQBHAKm3BEUMhD6mXPzxLxwQEtynhbZRKZV-yRDr-Ul3k4ZN1_Vqv4f0lNz7PG_nAhVeGpNZA2tdOTCSrMcGK1OxJO6sdfdyO-I3ds7orlctVTVz1SUbKUGK6dD-WIpXm1Oy7weneJi/s320/Pages%20from%20US-0757012-Bell%20Aerial%20Vehicle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fly with Bell!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Among the great electric inventors of the 19th century is Nikola Tesla. His was the mind behind equipping power grids with alternating electric current via Westinghouse Power (look up the "war of currents" sometime). His power and electrical inventions are the most well-known.<p></p><p>But, did you know he invented and patented a fountain? Indeed, Tesla was granted <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:6f705a14-6a1e-339e-9663-4b83079946e5" target="_blank">patent no. 1,113,716</a> for a fountain that could utilize more water in bigger, grander displays. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XQvINKge-7EbpDTEro9uUzawGiab34a3PQwa1iSW3dF0IHTMeF_vIEqTO8ThsJuqi5aFoHRJtfbAtdfgfXDNEDXLjIMWdJqikUhkW9Y3dtKfwkxABrtRLb7ZZAFGvwfNkdkP6j_qw6a-XnxYEJsYLjPcdrDNXAf4c_cm_Uo5SPU-qn2WBwkjKkVmWwCX/s5520/Pages%20from%20US-1113716-Tesla%20Fountain.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5520" data-original-width="3364" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XQvINKge-7EbpDTEro9uUzawGiab34a3PQwa1iSW3dF0IHTMeF_vIEqTO8ThsJuqi5aFoHRJtfbAtdfgfXDNEDXLjIMWdJqikUhkW9Y3dtKfwkxABrtRLb7ZZAFGvwfNkdkP6j_qw6a-XnxYEJsYLjPcdrDNXAf4c_cm_Uo5SPU-qn2WBwkjKkVmWwCX/s320/Pages%20from%20US-1113716-Tesla%20Fountain.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Striking fountains from Tesla's labs<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>George Washington Carver was the most prominent agricultural scientist and innovator in his day. Urging Southern farmers struggling with soil depleted by cotton to use crop rotation systems that included nitrogen-replenishing legumes was just one of his social contributions. He's usually associated with peanuts, with good reason. <p></p><p>No, he wasn't actually the inventor of peanut butter (a frequently-made yet inaccurate claim), but he did publish a bulletin on how to grow peanuts and 105 uses for it, and is credited with eventually pioneering at least 300 uses.</p><p>What you likely don't know he invented was a cosmetic product, granted <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:39cc7ae4-3603-3ee2-b5ce-6608d2cfbdaf" target="_blank">patent no. 1,522,176</a>. This "vanishing cream", like a concealer, was based on... peanut oil. So it's still peanut-adjacent. <br /></p><p>If you visited my summertime "Playful Patents" display, you probably saw something about one Lonnie G. Johnson. He's most famous for inventing a squirt gun popularized as the Super Soaker. </p><p>But Johnson was actually a scientific genius outside his spare time making cool toys1, and worked for NASA for years. Evidence for this particular set of skills lies in his less-famous <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:741b2341-1e3c-308e-b295-6117eaac5ae2" target="_blank">patent no. 4,476,693</a>, Thermal Energy Accumulation. The purpose was to provide heated running water, such as in a kitchen sink, via more efficient processes than the standard commercially available systems. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BDcSbzSRXbk6C91PJuNikEQPXQtFNQn_hJtU8vYRWRBweFd0p2ux--Q3pKUgRPjrs7k972z9U8H0TSaNu-YzwbGgwVfkdCMGbajYgInsy1kMXWdzenJIiopOGiwbdsIibHlY7xjwTnoo1CPqbVecIw8J-otAEFPo-2Edg58XxEHZR7FRa7vJ5XnSzRu1/s3643/Pages%20from%20US-4476693-Johnson%20Thermal%20Energy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="3643" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BDcSbzSRXbk6C91PJuNikEQPXQtFNQn_hJtU8vYRWRBweFd0p2ux--Q3pKUgRPjrs7k972z9U8H0TSaNu-YzwbGgwVfkdCMGbajYgInsy1kMXWdzenJIiopOGiwbdsIibHlY7xjwTnoo1CPqbVecIw8J-otAEFPo-2Edg58XxEHZR7FRa7vJ5XnSzRu1/s320/Pages%20from%20US-4476693-Johnson%20Thermal%20Energy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A diagram of the thermal device<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Taking a step back in time, one Isaac M. Singer is credited with inventing the mechanical sewing machine, and was subsequently issued many patents for it, the first in 1851. Singer is still among the most popular brands of sewing machines today.</p><p>Taking a step further back in time, Mr. Singer also invented a "Machine for Carving Wood or Metal", granted <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:fe177484-eea9-31db-83d8-ae11bdb516ec">patent no. 6,310</a> in April 1849. He was issued a second patent for improvements to wood carving machines in 1855, but otherwise only received US patents for sewing machines and their related equipment. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrOr8smxPl_GNFoe6hgNaYUoQF3MwBlqW8PH863y1cTlyY4U1NtRhjFiP94vh6XGK6_LxmMHEV_TmMEgAhwKa6jvYQGfzdpNv_Y_LCkwFoHrhlQkpmbLbWswZDaoFPyMXACnKVdub_oHax3qTTdxY-grdalqX8Ps3dK6X3W--KA9uz0Yow_nC-mUF8Nsn/s5309/Pages%20from%20US-0006310-A%20Singer%20Wood%20carving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4015" data-original-width="5309" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrOr8smxPl_GNFoe6hgNaYUoQF3MwBlqW8PH863y1cTlyY4U1NtRhjFiP94vh6XGK6_LxmMHEV_TmMEgAhwKa6jvYQGfzdpNv_Y_LCkwFoHrhlQkpmbLbWswZDaoFPyMXACnKVdub_oHax3qTTdxY-grdalqX8Ps3dK6X3W--KA9uz0Yow_nC-mUF8Nsn/s320/Pages%20from%20US-0006310-A%20Singer%20Wood%20carving.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singer facilitated many kinds of crafts<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>"The Real McCoy" is a phrase bandied about, with little knowledge of its origins. It comes from the frequent request for using his patented automatic lubricator products, which were superior to other cheap imitators.</p><p>Evidently McCoy also took a brief break from revolutionizing lubricants for heavy machinery and railroads to invent ironing tables. He was granted <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:ddcb0640-e4c8-3136-a3d5-40fd806be302" target="_blank">patent no. 150,876</a> in May, 1874 for one iteration, but no one really talks about this one when they bring up his legacy. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPALS5au_ymZe1gtHw-VEfO0FFcjyQcDaR7ed9vceliOYdl_WU8SA3akK3kt08ZBFAZ462NfdwCi2ondfoTjJHR63Snub5IvZTkApCX3029payqNeKoyXBMWkdZeCbvzWzUeU_lHuNOyLPosp_io0wmwu0oxy_CrSJiGQgwno2-bEPvv-vGgICjw6_tGZT/s5016/Pages%20from%20US-0150876-%20McCoy%20Ironing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5016" data-original-width="3798" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPALS5au_ymZe1gtHw-VEfO0FFcjyQcDaR7ed9vceliOYdl_WU8SA3akK3kt08ZBFAZ462NfdwCi2ondfoTjJHR63Snub5IvZTkApCX3029payqNeKoyXBMWkdZeCbvzWzUeU_lHuNOyLPosp_io0wmwu0oxy_CrSJiGQgwno2-bEPvv-vGgICjw6_tGZT/s320/Pages%20from%20US-0150876-%20McCoy%20Ironing.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somehow not as famous as the automated lubricators<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I'd like to have included some female inventors, but most of the well-known women were only issued patents for inventions equally familiar (which may be as much as 0 familiarity). Or, they were similar to Hedy Lamarr, who was famous as an actress, despite some of her incredible innovations and being a co-inventor of <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:e1da7d73-a443-31d1-bf30-03e0bde0949e" target="_blank">patent no. 2,292,387</a> "Secret Communication System" (listed with her married name).</p><p>If you know of any female inventors who had some less famous inventions, mention them in a comment.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-70303095401119466582023-09-15T15:11:00.010-05:002023-09-18T09:37:12.988-05:00IP & the Constitution<p>While you're preparing to celebrate Constitution Day (either on your own on the 17th or here at Fondren on the 18th), take a moment to appreciate how America's IP system was originally formed within Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8.</p><blockquote><p>To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for
limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their
respective Writings and Discoveries;</p></blockquote><p>It's a brief statement and perhaps vague, but it is the building block on which all of our modern US IP concepts were built. It outlines the continued laws that give authors, creators, and inventors (or owners) exclusive rights to their creations, but only for a specific limited time. Length of copyright protection has significantly increased across the years, but we haven't strayed too far from the original principles. </p><p>Perhaps the most significant change is related to marks (trademarks). There is no specific mention of them in the articles and clauses that lay out other forms of IP--copyrights, patents, and trade secrets. Congress didn't gain power over trademark legislation until much later, and that was under the Commerce Clause.</p><p>See the explanation of Federal power over trademarks <a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C8-5/ALDE_00013069/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /></p><p>For more on the powers given to Congress over IP, and the associated section of the Constitution, see a general explanation <a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C8-1/ALDE_00013060/" target="_blank">here</a> and the details on each <a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C8-1/ALDE_00013060/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>I'd like to close by sharing a patent for the ink formula (oak gall based) used to write the Constitution, or perhaps some other component of the document, but wasn't able to find anything from the correct era. Searching for late 18th century patents is particularly challenging.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuLaMkU-4QckjslmZ4YryvIDFloMlG7ofAOmVHmgcJfeWx-xm7QKufIYqdzmHbyOT4Sv-I9zza4c_mz4tx3gsou6OHTdO9gtLiWARw-Tbz49NKMREALwfsvBwREgf7KoCXwL4SSHqn2na1JmD1211TIvrSKVcfQqxESxPExxYaXb_wTNvDOTXAaO3oJLB/s4404/ConstitutionFULL_p1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4404" data-original-width="3638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuLaMkU-4QckjslmZ4YryvIDFloMlG7ofAOmVHmgcJfeWx-xm7QKufIYqdzmHbyOT4Sv-I9zza4c_mz4tx3gsou6OHTdO9gtLiWARw-Tbz49NKMREALwfsvBwREgf7KoCXwL4SSHqn2na1JmD1211TIvrSKVcfQqxESxPExxYaXb_wTNvDOTXAaO3oJLB/s320/ConstitutionFULL_p1.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-63425810248710578282023-09-11T15:41:00.005-05:002023-09-11T15:41:42.257-05:00Puzzling Patents<p>Actually, this would more appropriately be called patents for puzzles, but I can't resist a good title.<br /></p><p>Recently, a jigsaw puzzle was placed in Fondren's staff lounge, and it got me thinking about puzzle IP. Were jigsaw puzzles ever patentable? If not the puzzles, then perhaps their production or manufacture, or even a process for assembling a puzzle, has been patented.<br /></p><p>As it turns out, there are a lot of patents for various aspects of jigsaw puzzles, dating back to the early 20th century (according to my results). I found most interesting those patents for early jigsaw puzzle production, such as 1935's <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:2f6918a0-3d92-3e8f-9c0d-dd2e69712454" target="_blank">patent no. 1,995,959</a>, Die for Cutting Puzzles and Like Cut-Outs. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSpCBWT4m2kOy0V0ol3NaVTTLZkU5H7unJ2H3K1tS5CJYNrS5v_qtTlrMooNWOMeMVidZnkdniXtc3kiMulb76dPTx08ec_PTuV0tdfjTvgZsdvI5da_pqwXYPnUK0RRFdl-dlusiq5cO5o7JgWqJKhl-jb4e4eQ9rOszFCg0gPz2GVbFf8H9UvL06RfR/s5120/Pages%20from%20US-1995959-die%20for%20cutting%20puzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image from US patent no. 1,995,959, Die for Cutting Puzzles and Like Cut-Outs" border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="3400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSpCBWT4m2kOy0V0ol3NaVTTLZkU5H7unJ2H3K1tS5CJYNrS5v_qtTlrMooNWOMeMVidZnkdniXtc3kiMulb76dPTx08ec_PTuV0tdfjTvgZsdvI5da_pqwXYPnUK0RRFdl-dlusiq5cO5o7JgWqJKhl-jb4e4eQ9rOszFCg0gPz2GVbFf8H9UvL06RfR/w213-h320/Pages%20from%20US-1995959-die%20for%20cutting%20puzzle.jpg" title="Image from US patent no. 1,995,959, Die for Cutting Puzzles and Like Cut-Outs" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It still looks like a laborious process<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>There were also a lot of inventions concerned with preserving puzzle progress or a completed construction. I found three early versions most useful, starting with 1933's <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:1bd7a293-4244-3784-ad1d-e697e68b9ab7" target="_blank">patent no. 1,904,724</a>, Jig-Saw Puzzle Holder, with adjustable dimensions for different puzzles sizes. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTMjAURwusEd7gnTWUFoI2tQCsAYK7eagZr1mV55y2JgadlOmqcBjAaViJnpi7Vx9XnBTHxDlrMdq4VDIJw9GAZpfbuZRosOE3jvOFoLw0J_YpoNrrhfD-hg4ZKdG2MagXsJEYE9z4v2k8DyjgQMG4Gs0XBjRFVyNploQAXv-dZ7cC9p41zULucS2Du1j/s4976/Pages%20from%20US-1904724-Jigsaw%20puzzle%20holder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image from US patent no. 1,904,724, Jig-Saw Puzzle Holder" border="0" data-original-height="4976" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTMjAURwusEd7gnTWUFoI2tQCsAYK7eagZr1mV55y2JgadlOmqcBjAaViJnpi7Vx9XnBTHxDlrMdq4VDIJw9GAZpfbuZRosOE3jvOFoLw0J_YpoNrrhfD-hg4ZKdG2MagXsJEYE9z4v2k8DyjgQMG4Gs0XBjRFVyNploQAXv-dZ7cC9p41zULucS2Du1j/w222-h320/Pages%20from%20US-1904724-Jigsaw%20puzzle%20holder.jpg" title="Image from US patent no. 1,904,724, Jig-Saw Puzzle Holder" width="222" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple, yet an effective solution for those wobbly edges<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Later that year, <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:3a60d538-a4be-3131-b9b2-bc7d72565678" target="_blank">patent no. 2,003,845</a>, Adjustable Frame for Jigsaw Puzzles, provides a different structure for the framing as well as a surface with increased friction to keep pieces from sliding apart. </p><p>Years later, in 1950, <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:566fa611-c708-3604-aec2-b52ad7e39630" target="_blank">patent no. 2,506,189</a>, Adjustable Jigsaw Puzzle Frame, takes various levels of ability into concern, and incorporates an element that elevates and angles the puzzle. Inventor R.B. Attridge had in mind those who might struggle otherwise, stating in the second sentence that "Solving of jig saw puzzles affords a wholesome pastime for invalids and convalescents, for example, for disabled veterans". Props to Attridge for some early accessibility design thinking! For those who may think 1950 isn't that early, consider <a href="https://www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/ada/" target="_blank">when the ADA was passed</a>. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGfJI7g_U2ifLvm3vVYrAP9-3kVjOQyGLtkgLdyz3suc32I5JcvXpLG8qknJe7fm7p67wVQKjQbbRDrFZFLxpJzcIFyoZvCgruSFDdfIG9r_3Fc38ToCfPeA_UkIKiMpXcLjLOTSioS8BkbUUEz3W1VvyoTOx3W-dwuC50otlfqolTVlejSpGy7fIAJNV/s5496/Pages%20from%20US-2506189-Adjustable%20jigsaw%20fram%20accessible%20tilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image from US patent no. 2,506,189, Adjustable Jigsaw Puzzle Frame" border="0" data-original-height="5496" data-original-width="3472" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGfJI7g_U2ifLvm3vVYrAP9-3kVjOQyGLtkgLdyz3suc32I5JcvXpLG8qknJe7fm7p67wVQKjQbbRDrFZFLxpJzcIFyoZvCgruSFDdfIG9r_3Fc38ToCfPeA_UkIKiMpXcLjLOTSioS8BkbUUEz3W1VvyoTOx3W-dwuC50otlfqolTVlejSpGy7fIAJNV/w202-h320/Pages%20from%20US-2506189-Adjustable%20jigsaw%20fram%20accessible%20tilt.jpg" title="Image from US patent no. 2,506,189, Adjustable Jigsaw Puzzle Frame" width="202" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A frame with added elevation and angle properties, for accessibility<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Later, the puzzle patents become more concerned with adapting puzzles to new purposes and environments. For example, <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:1476dcb9-3474-384a-83be-16742cace134" target="_blank">patent no. 5,536,009</a>, Pool Puzzle, Method of Play, which is a floating puzzle meant to be assembled in the pool. I can't say I've much considered swimming and puzzle assembly compatible activities, but perhaps that's why I'm not an inventor like fellow Texan Scott D. Edwards. Then again, I also spent countless hours when younger reading hardback books while in a pool, which is almost as incompatible a pairing. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBbXcGmTRwVaXrTmb43Qln_x3Qwe6K9k9-ZpUlqb8KUUr6ySk6CBjvdPtqOorGVnSWXK0oeLqxxdvLbFwr9xOdsk7mBrgojfxPJprU3WQGDqdxRZCmjIdkIwrsOvRZ6NaB0QBsQOJYAkmJ8hJdeSsbWK69rsZbs2qF4P7vO7np2hhLibdZC3FQ-CbqOj3/s4000/Pages%20from%20US-5536009-Pool%20Puzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image from US patent no. 5,536,009, Pool Puzzle, Method of Play" border="0" data-original-height="2896" data-original-width="4000" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBbXcGmTRwVaXrTmb43Qln_x3Qwe6K9k9-ZpUlqb8KUUr6ySk6CBjvdPtqOorGVnSWXK0oeLqxxdvLbFwr9xOdsk7mBrgojfxPJprU3WQGDqdxRZCmjIdkIwrsOvRZ6NaB0QBsQOJYAkmJ8hJdeSsbWK69rsZbs2qF4P7vO7np2hhLibdZC3FQ-CbqOj3/w320-h232/Pages%20from%20US-5536009-Pool%20Puzzle.jpg" title="image from US patent no. 5,536,009, Pool Puzzle, Method of Play" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately, it looks like a very simple puzzle<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Many of the most recent reflect a trend in spatially expanding puzzles. For example, Thomas and Jean Greenwald own patents for two three dimensional puzzles. First, in 2021, <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:36269c31-8b76-3fcb-a47f-12af98571b31" target="_blank">patent no. 11,198,056</a>, Multiple Level Jigsaw Puzzle, and in 2023, <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:0c70f71c-ae48-3720-8b59-091a430fdae8" target="_blank">patent no. 11,717,745</a>, Tier-on-Tier Multiple Level Jigsaw Puzzle. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXva3dsy8Hv_CsyLoeQ_AfduwmqCFgzbE0elyHLuQedXeI6kHAf_JAdJFaGhlifYswRIrZxknod1tSHBNC0YyvyBrUrsuSo9gDsX2VCCr2H9JzSBvADJi_BWjftHYMXyCYvlpib54B1jBe9vizP52jLbI6ajBWYD5RmSX3CWNjSeebjdQA-7MRIZ21nbWo/s4496/Pages%20from%20US-11717745-Tier%20on%20tier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image from US patent no. 11,717,745, Tier-on-Tier Multiple Level Jigsaw Puzzle" border="0" data-original-height="4496" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXva3dsy8Hv_CsyLoeQ_AfduwmqCFgzbE0elyHLuQedXeI6kHAf_JAdJFaGhlifYswRIrZxknod1tSHBNC0YyvyBrUrsuSo9gDsX2VCCr2H9JzSBvADJi_BWjftHYMXyCYvlpib54B1jBe9vizP52jLbI6ajBWYD5RmSX3CWNjSeebjdQA-7MRIZ21nbWo/w285-h320/Pages%20from%20US-11717745-Tier%20on%20tier.jpg" title="Image from US patent no. 11,717,745, Tier-on-Tier Multiple Level Jigsaw Puzzle" width="285" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't pick this one because it was kitty-shaped, really<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I started to think about whether the puzzle aide I owned was patented. It wouldn't have appeared among the results for my above search [query: ((jigsaw <em>OR</em> (jig <em>WITH</em> saw)) <em>AND</em> puzzle) <em>AND</em> (cardboard <em>OR</em> wood)]. Take a look at the pictures, and shout out some suggested search terms in the comments! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSuJfaUiD-x4aVZEXx5x9fzME66c1FNWwV1nVViaxBOHqBug-rv3viuAiFyHTMR9Nxfo6bxx9HI4M3SkD9VZa9sKCxUBnwDDRsEx-fHwBtrQWwfxYIJkVtLyFYV_-gBVzxmTx04irGbFE_xoYx1om5HEwAEhQl-jqEG4z2AOZ9emORJiZDkpZG9TEHDbe/s4032/IMG_0312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSuJfaUiD-x4aVZEXx5x9fzME66c1FNWwV1nVViaxBOHqBug-rv3viuAiFyHTMR9Nxfo6bxx9HI4M3SkD9VZa9sKCxUBnwDDRsEx-fHwBtrQWwfxYIJkVtLyFYV_-gBVzxmTx04irGbFE_xoYx1om5HEwAEhQl-jqEG4z2AOZ9emORJiZDkpZG9TEHDbe/s320/IMG_0312.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a large rectangular piece of felt and an inflatable cylinder<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRUALKWoT47209TC2MFj89xAaZm47d18Fy7Pxa45Ed_TUlGrAP9IRMIV4gKz-t7CN67Ea47S3WkltuvR8d868q-NN6EQXhO7HdW8R-e6KJLqd0Hv1OxkqLgodRR0w7bgmHEx5E-fTj1S97nSvI-vCcw15XxhPrrVHTUpTWqFDW3yPYkBH5WcyqOQDPggF/s4032/IMG_0311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRUALKWoT47209TC2MFj89xAaZm47d18Fy7Pxa45Ed_TUlGrAP9IRMIV4gKz-t7CN67Ea47S3WkltuvR8d868q-NN6EQXhO7HdW8R-e6KJLqd0Hv1OxkqLgodRR0w7bgmHEx5E-fTj1S97nSvI-vCcw15XxhPrrVHTUpTWqFDW3yPYkBH5WcyqOQDPggF/s320/IMG_0311.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine has been rolled up in a closet for too long<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1Qj6Y0WfIKWClFUpC-xczMTFSRCQt1sTJVy6j2Qhlsx2jSUqT72XeOJXQzl1lnJC_3ZJ4D51GJOEITJ4sL7aQKStuLarT_zGjJuBeEC2UJF880Vg3sTeFLR1LbL0t2QCqSjg7n8ljpowfvlKxExFGNJWTBrD72Ctbt56iaIXRB6lFd4WMOjVi-sv5hUl/s4032/IMG_0310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1Qj6Y0WfIKWClFUpC-xczMTFSRCQt1sTJVy6j2Qhlsx2jSUqT72XeOJXQzl1lnJC_3ZJ4D51GJOEITJ4sL7aQKStuLarT_zGjJuBeEC2UJF880Vg3sTeFLR1LbL0t2QCqSjg7n8ljpowfvlKxExFGNJWTBrD72Ctbt56iaIXRB6lFd4WMOjVi-sv5hUl/s320/IMG_0310.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The felt piece rolls around the inflatable cylinder and has two elastic stays, held together with Velcro<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-30478646473681329502023-08-28T13:57:00.006-05:002023-08-28T13:57:53.042-05:00Inventions for Cats<p>You know what we really love in my household? Cats. We are serious cat people. And, it was our great misfortune to lose one of our beloved cats, Miss Mosquito, this past weekend. Though it is painful for me to write about it, I'm having a hard time focusing on other work tasks, so I decided to make a blog post about some patented inventions for cats. So please forgive me if this is a slightly sloppier entry than usual.</p><p>I'm not certain what the purpose of this cat plush is--or why it has a zipper on its back--but it's cute and mildly kitty-looking. OnTel Products mostly sells battery-powered devices and stuff you'd find stocked by the check out in a mega store, but they took this cat seriously and own a design patent, no. <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:67de4cf8-86ee-3be1-8af0-5db598e44d6a" target="_blank">D857,121</a>. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJAl_AnILXyyiUCWvF5fB7UnWFx3FvutqvhBA84FkzcfQGDJuHGAU0LccFVTKy013u14qTzfO4Ml4Rmb6BQnRVDDzTsBaxUVIL7NoD79n-U_8CrOHB_9MDkimNJ8bqVPKk5t1PecvmMM6Q18feIzLkQYKYsvF4hkwRd2iquCCQUO16qwHgPoPk-qFmK8H/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-D857121-Plush%20Cat-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJAl_AnILXyyiUCWvF5fB7UnWFx3FvutqvhBA84FkzcfQGDJuHGAU0LccFVTKy013u14qTzfO4Ml4Rmb6BQnRVDDzTsBaxUVIL7NoD79n-U_8CrOHB_9MDkimNJ8bqVPKk5t1PecvmMM6Q18feIzLkQYKYsvF4hkwRd2iquCCQUO16qwHgPoPk-qFmK8H/w247-h320/Pages%20from%20US-D857121-Plush%20Cat-2.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image of the plush cat from patent no. D857,121<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Having a cat indoors without some kind of designated feline furniture is not recommended. At the very least, have a scratching post. For best results, get a cat tree or tower, like this "Animal House", <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:04c31e49-b07a-39d2-a849-47d07907e269" target="_blank">design patent no. D989,408</a>. Cats love to climb and survey the world from the highest available perch. The built-in hidey-hole is an attractive addition for shy cat family members! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOGuVB93I1f59nrhyBlFBkqlmksT79-LocHBhIAJ8E35GCMgTiYyjcL2VLgyg3xiTjjz6kboImCGQy849ZTafx9GWmDl5kWJksxjyTAn0M8zJrlm7DH-bZjAZYd9uTbaMun-t3QX65xbe0v3uZKQlSKcO9QJD3FTIxlFmQJOGpnqxTaT_7oDTNFC8ypjQ/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-D989408-Cat%20tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOGuVB93I1f59nrhyBlFBkqlmksT79-LocHBhIAJ8E35GCMgTiYyjcL2VLgyg3xiTjjz6kboImCGQy849ZTafx9GWmDl5kWJksxjyTAn0M8zJrlm7DH-bZjAZYd9uTbaMun-t3QX65xbe0v3uZKQlSKcO9QJD3FTIxlFmQJOGpnqxTaT_7oDTNFC8ypjQ/w247-h320/Pages%20from%20US-D989408-Cat%20tree.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Design patent D989,408 drawing of an elaborate cat tree/tower<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Multiple cat household? Recently adopted kitten struggling to adapt? Try plugging in "Pheromone Compositions and Uses Thereof" (<a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:ec8372fc-49fe-3dff-8a21-4aa687c164ac" target="_blank">US patent no. 11,331,296</a>) from Ceva Sante Animale. If you have cats, you might be more familiar with trademarked name Feliway. It's a product we rely on and keep dispersing almost constantly. These manufactured pheromones have a calming effect on cats, and can help decrease tensions between them (as in our case) or just help some of the more anxious ones. </p><p>Finally, there's a way to avoid one of the most unpleasant chores that accompanies cats: scooping and cleaning the litter box. It's probably not quite as bad as changing and handling a used a child's diaper (I wouldn't know; I have cats, not kids), but no one likes it. With the "Automated Litter Device" (<a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:b3c00b6c-40d8-327d-98ee-2f2e6d26ebf3" target="_blank">US patent no. 11,523,586</a>) from Automated Pet Care Products, the litter is both scooped and refilled for you. Sensors detect when kitty is present and when kitty has left, and when more litter needs to be increased. Unfortunately, I imagine my cats would not appreciate the litter-eating robot and would refuse to use it, leading to a bigger, more unpleasant kind of chore. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX_-4Xi3ifntgzZFTynJL-AT3bsg0MBMQoV_GygMA3G1q6F0CuARWuVcVTgYN9SuhQufJwwce3VcbP0Gf7-MEx1ny4MuNwVLNj-791h3HEs7c2j6cBJj3I7_G5qP8rhw9GX110w01LOdAdWHz2H24irtDiOuo8aytlDt5b4n8y6KyY_IU6MVrgWWD7v0-/s6600/Pages%20from%20US-11523586-Litter%20robot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6600" data-original-width="5100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX_-4Xi3ifntgzZFTynJL-AT3bsg0MBMQoV_GygMA3G1q6F0CuARWuVcVTgYN9SuhQufJwwce3VcbP0Gf7-MEx1ny4MuNwVLNj-791h3HEs7c2j6cBJj3I7_G5qP8rhw9GX110w01LOdAdWHz2H24irtDiOuo8aytlDt5b4n8y6KyY_IU6MVrgWWD7v0-/w247-h320/Pages%20from%20US-11523586-Litter%20robot.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figures from patent no. 11,523,586 describing its function<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>BONUS: This is Mosquito, and her litter mate sister Cricket. 'Squito has the white and black fur and blue eyes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWiFZyu2PMxLvtUUwfICrNvBkrJyArK9BYroqdwNw32eTpRLCS2qWHZKZ78gKECwP0JL7lhO0m50SEM0ASiJmqK0c1VzbLJftH8KiOn0CVOHHACb59EmCcs56IZLo0JfhPY8184iKmBzrqyb3uM2wLelghayJId2iScmhDSVwiEYdoaNU19KNBuWTiHK5/s4032/IMG_9126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A photograph of a cat, named Mosquito, with blue eyes and white and black fur" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWiFZyu2PMxLvtUUwfICrNvBkrJyArK9BYroqdwNw32eTpRLCS2qWHZKZ78gKECwP0JL7lhO0m50SEM0ASiJmqK0c1VzbLJftH8KiOn0CVOHHACb59EmCcs56IZLo0JfhPY8184iKmBzrqyb3uM2wLelghayJId2iScmhDSVwiEYdoaNU19KNBuWTiHK5/w240-h320/IMG_9126.jpg" title="A photograph of a cat, named Mosquito, with blue eyes and white and black fur" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50wrI3PPY7Cxmi_FVx5r25iPfbLYIeiBBU6tXO5BdQYLhl2Q-l2SKwBM1gzCs45fz2ajhT1-buRG5UvX-cHJv0eYJk6gY-qPVMVcoJjjdO4GC_SV7KydSOxMFW3rAeVDqBPerodKQ9_1HYmQvbXqLnZgk8l9izpgdZTo923RBxZVLvi8VcFCUrxJ7lmz-/s4032/IMG_2564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A photograph of a cat, named Crickt, with tortoise shell patterned fur and green eyes." border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50wrI3PPY7Cxmi_FVx5r25iPfbLYIeiBBU6tXO5BdQYLhl2Q-l2SKwBM1gzCs45fz2ajhT1-buRG5UvX-cHJv0eYJk6gY-qPVMVcoJjjdO4GC_SV7KydSOxMFW3rAeVDqBPerodKQ9_1HYmQvbXqLnZgk8l9izpgdZTo923RBxZVLvi8VcFCUrxJ7lmz-/w240-h320/IMG_2564.jpg" title="A photograph of a cat, named Crickt, with tortoise shell patterned fur and green eyes." width="240" /></a></div><p></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858694209042083284.post-25757457061909759592023-08-22T15:07:00.009-05:002023-09-06T15:24:20.108-05:00Genericide! AKA, the death of a trademark<p>Genericide? Yes, you read that right. This blog post is a about death. The death of IP... The death of IP by becoming generic.<br /></p><p>It's a terrible fate for any entity that owns a mark. Only those that reach the peak of their success actually suffer from it because the brands are so widespread. Marks lose their significant connection to one specific good or service, and are applied across the board to all similar products. </p><p>Imagine the marketing team that creates a branding strategy so well, they actually destroy themselves. </p><p>It's not common, but it has happened enough times throughout the history of the US Trademark Office to be a recognizable risk. It is almost unique to word marks, particularly nouns. Let's look at a few of the most notable cases.<br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Escalators</span></b></p><p>It's true, escalator was once a word mark. Over 100 years ago, Charles Seeberger purchased patents for a moving stairway from inventor George Wheeler. Seeberger made a deal with the still today well-known elevator manufacturer, Otis, and coined the term "Escalator". On May 19, 1900, Escalator was registered as a trademark, no. 34,724. This model of the moving stairway was a central attraction at the 1900 Paris World's Fair. Soon, it was in department stores and large gathering places, changing how people used space. In particular, the escalator changed the shopping experience. </p><p>However, by 1950, escalator was no longer used just for the one product. The public and Otis itself were commonly using it in a generic sense. The word mark no longer specifically represented the Otis model. Haughton Elevator Company brought the case to the Commissioner of Patents and the Examiner of Trade-Marks. On April 3, 1950, escalator was cancelled. <a href="https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/thetmr40&i=400" target="_blank">Read the legal decision here</a>.<br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Cellophane</span></b></p><p>Du Pont purchased US patent rights for the Swiss-invented cellophane and swiftly the new Du Pont Cellophane Company applied for a trademark for the cellulose wrapping, first known as "La Cellophane". Just plain "Cellophane" was registered July 22, 1924, no. 186,577. In the meantime, Du Pont discovered it was not impermeable to moisture. A new formula was patented in 1927. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaOvrOBhT554JEZhCw9UX8I8JBnz8DCQwo0O-bxEvkUZmckrquG8J15CyQ7XpaoBqTOuF1d1-FS5nNBsXoWoijKUKV3vILmmJ8egPFSzzlIGT9L90JrIaSifOSSlvIGN7YlmNApTVcU6ZjaooJtcJXVdDVP8548kP7cYHR2qE6tqIWifMHbL8os2zPNpk/s4032/IMG_0149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Record of the Du Pont Cellophane mark in the Official Gazette" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaOvrOBhT554JEZhCw9UX8I8JBnz8DCQwo0O-bxEvkUZmckrquG8J15CyQ7XpaoBqTOuF1d1-FS5nNBsXoWoijKUKV3vILmmJ8egPFSzzlIGT9L90JrIaSifOSSlvIGN7YlmNApTVcU6ZjaooJtcJXVdDVP8548kP7cYHR2qE6tqIWifMHbL8os2zPNpk/w320-h240/IMG_0149.jpg" title="Record of the Du Pont Cellophane mark in the Official Gazette" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Record of the Du Pont Cellophane mark in the Official Gazette<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Yet only a short 12 years after registration, the <a href="https://www.uspto.gov/kids/grave2-cellophane.html" target="_blank">Waxed Products Company</a> objected to the Cellophane word mark. Evidently it had become ubiquitous when referring to transparent plastic wraps, and could no longer be justified as a trademark. Du Pont continued to manufacture the product, discontinuing it after a 62 year run once other, superior products supplanted its use. Read about <a href="https://www.dupont.com/about/our-history.html" target="_blank">Du Pont's history here</a>.<br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Aspirin </span></b><br /></p><p>If you're anything like me (cheap, OK? I admit it.), when you peruse a pharmacy's pain relief aisle, you're accustomed to deliberately selecting those with generic names: ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen sodium, etc. However, there's one exception, and that's aspirin. It was trademarked <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjh.14520?sid=nlm%3Apubmed#bjh14520-sec-0003-title" target="_blank">as far back as 1899 by Bayer AG</a>, but lasted only slightly longer than Cellophane.</p><p>Of course, this one is only slightly a case of genericide. Things get confusing around 1917-1918; there are many conflicting timelines for events. Many of Bayer's assets were seized during World War I, and that included patents and trademarks. Debates over using Bayer's Aspirin in government legislative bodies in Australia, the US, and others who opposed Germany focused on problems with governments purchasing a German product. The seizure of IP may have been related.</p><p>By the time Bayer would be able to re-register a mark for aspirin, it was already too widely used by companies selling a specific pain reliever with the same acetylsalicylic acid formula. <br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Dry Ice</span></b></p><p>Labs and chemists had been producing dry ice for decades before a company dedicated to it was founded, in no small part because there was no known practical use for solid carbon dioxide. Nonetheless, the DryIce Corporation of America had their word mark registered on July 14, 1925, no. 200,934. A few years earlier a patent for the process to make dry ice had been obtained, so the company was founded with something of a hopeful attitude. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MHmFwckpCi6Icr1cipmW1WBFANRlw_X-51dqQ1CibSgZ206QoI0oQXn1Di5KFf5dMn6SVXCSyVxvN3jmEdyV8XtLkzeKDEidfIQJYctkr3HY8oR8gUu63t3dAZ_uf_ymCqgPgUmaMd6BgnYL4CJ9YNJPiyB-YYyTdbxa84aGVoRx3iwMhx71CujlkC--/s4032/IMG_0153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A picture of the page with the record of the DryIce application for trademark in the Official Gazette." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MHmFwckpCi6Icr1cipmW1WBFANRlw_X-51dqQ1CibSgZ206QoI0oQXn1Di5KFf5dMn6SVXCSyVxvN3jmEdyV8XtLkzeKDEidfIQJYctkr3HY8oR8gUu63t3dAZ_uf_ymCqgPgUmaMd6BgnYL4CJ9YNJPiyB-YYyTdbxa84aGVoRx3iwMhx71CujlkC--/w320-h240/IMG_0153.jpg" title="A picture of the page with the record of the DryIce application for trademark in the Official Gazette." width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Record of the DryIce application for trademark in the Official Gazette<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>The DryIce corporation had a pretty good run for a few years after uses for the solid carbon dioxide were found--largely in shipping cold products like frozen foods--but fell prey to a too-successful mark. <a href="https://www.uspto.gov/kids/grave3-dryice.html" target="_blank">In 1932</a>, the DryIce Corporation of America lost to Louisiana Dry Ice Corporation, and the term "dry ice" just became a generic phrase to indicate anyone's solid carbon dioxide. </p><p>Another mark was registered in July 1926 and included design elements, and had slightly greater longevity. It was re-registered in the 60s before later expiring.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxaiC43q_UCuXk7j3o8Z9u1m6RDiQOuxHq1KV9ZidtZPy_0_Dqle53YKZrInHQDDKpnvNr1xGg3CXqp5Mxc7BLc7kbrMv3XJ7TsbUj6pLfFY4iWdNDZ1d-KYgAEI_k7RpBLGIUC0T7SCNh3I6aiV-XiONB88oVXqfhM9JRcOBu3gZXpQXNLANAiT-ufyY/s599/DryIce.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An image of the online record for the word and design trademark for the DryIce product." border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="599" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxaiC43q_UCuXk7j3o8Z9u1m6RDiQOuxHq1KV9ZidtZPy_0_Dqle53YKZrInHQDDKpnvNr1xGg3CXqp5Mxc7BLc7kbrMv3XJ7TsbUj6pLfFY4iWdNDZ1d-KYgAEI_k7RpBLGIUC0T7SCNh3I6aiV-XiONB88oVXqfhM9JRcOBu3gZXpQXNLANAiT-ufyY/w400-h191/DryIce.png" title="An image of the online record for the word and design trademark for the DryIce product." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A word and design trademark for the DryIce product.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Today, most entities are very careful with their branded names and marks, seeking to avoid the fates of the examples above. Genericide is more well-known. You may have noticed that all of the examples above were taken from the first half of the 20th century. <br /></p><p>I hope our trip through the trademark graveyard was fun! Leave a comment if you think there are others that deserve a shout out, or if there's a mark you suspect will suffer genericide soon.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Kelley Center for Government Information, Fondren Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06130470541436817242noreply@blogger.com0