What’s new in the war on patents? Three new companies have entered the ring - Hyundai and Kia are reportedly being sued by Paice LLC for infringing on three patents in regards to hybrid-engine technology.
Paice, standing for Power Assisted Internal Combustion Engines, is in possession of the world’s ten most dominant hybrid vehicle patents. Soviet founder Alex Severinsky first conceived the idea for a hybrid gas/electric car and received a patent covering the concept in 1994. His drivetrain development couldn’t have come at a better time – before Japanese car companies decided themselves to consider the hybrid concept seriously.
News has it that Hyundai and Kia aren’t the first to have to battle it out with Paice. After a grueling eight years of legal back-and-forth, Toyota finally settled their own patent dispute with the company in 2010.
Paice continues to uphold its licensing agreements with Toyota and Ford since then, including the ‘970 patent which is ranked as the second most dominant hybrid vehicle patent in the world. This specific patent is related to the pairing of an internal combustion engine with an electric motor.
Now the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid as well as the Kia Optima, both of which use the same powertrain technology, are up for legal dispute. Though the specifics have not yet been clarified by either company, the odds seem to be in Paice’s favor.
Though it may sound like the villain in recent news, the Paice company continues to successfully develop fuel efficient and cost-effective hybrid technologies. With the support of the Abell Foundation, a non-profit geared towards helping energy efficient missions, the Paice future looks bright.
Yesterday, as we all know was Valentine’s Day, and whether you spent it alone, in the office, or with someone you love, you probably indulged in a bit of chocolate. Truffles, Kisses, and assorted heart-shaped boxes are just a few of the holiday’s best sellers. It’s only appropriate, then, that we take a look at some of the lesser known chocolate inventions that have been patented throughout the years.
Chocolate Graphics International has recently received a patent for their process of communicating via chocolate. Using a computerized laser technology, the company can print any message, photo, or other image onto a chocolate surface, with chocolate. From unique invitations, business cards, even menus the people at CGI produce anywhere up to 150,000 personalized chocolate orders a day.
Further admitting the importance of chocolate in our society is New World Enterprises, Inc. who in 2006 received two patents dealing with “Novel Chocolate Composition as Delivery for Nutrients and Medications.” Looking into the complex chemistry of the delicious treat, NWE has researched how the synergistic compounds affect energy levels, craving, satisfaction, and several other character traits in people. They even created a dietary supplement replicating the health benefits, taste, etc. of chocolate without the sugar, fat, and other negative aspects of the candy.
Leave it to Starbucks to also capitalize on the nation’s favorite sweet treat. The multi-million dollar company has stretched the limitations of patent design and turned their own unique looking piece of chocolate into protected intellectual property. The Starbucks Confection Chocolate Design patent is just another step to help distinguish the brand from its competition.
Every year, the US alone consumes over $13 billion worth of chocolate. Not only is it a staple of every Valentine’s Day, but the excess of chocolate bunnies, eggs, Santas, and other designs has turned it into a necessity of any holiday or special occasion. The next time you pop a piece of chocolate into your mouth, you may take a moment to consider the industry and where your particular treat is coming from and who it belongs to.
This month we’re taking a look back at Lady Liberty herself, since February 18th marks the date that Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi was granted the design patent for the statue in 1879. A universal symbol of freedom, democracy, and friendship (a gift from the people of France), the Statue of Liberty is visited by thousands of people daily and has become one of the most famous monuments in world history.
Bartholdi learned of his passion for large sculptural pieces on a trip to Europe and the Middle East. Already a student of art, sculpture, and architecture Bartholdi jumped at the chance to design a lighthouse for the Suez Canal in Egypt in 1869. His vision was a colossal robed woman holding a torch and he named it “Egypt Brings Light to Asia.” It was at the canal’s inauguration, however, that he was told he could no longer continue the project.
His efforts were not lost, though, as a second chance came in 1870, after Edouard de Laboulaye proposed a monument for the United States representing freedom and democracy. Bartholdi was recruited and the design and construction of the Statue of “Liberty Enlightening the World” began.
Several trips to the U.S. later, Bartholdi decided that New York was the gateway to America and new that the statue had to be erected at Bedloe’s Island. The first piece of Lady Liberty to reach full construction was her arm and torch which was put on display at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876.
In 1884, the statue reached full construction in Paris and was presented to the United States Ambassador to France. Afterwards, it is disassembled and shipped to New York. With the completion of the pedestal in 1886, the statue is then reconstructed. One million New Yorkers were present for the official unveiling of the Statue of Liberty in October of 1886. During the ceremony, Bartholdi receives the key to the city and climbs the Statue in order to release the French Flag. Celebration follows.
If you’ve never been to see Lady Liberty in person, you should. The 305 foot monument is one that you’ll never forget.
The USPTO has announced plans to hold a new competition called Patents for Humanity. Open for submissions on March 1st, the contest aims to recognize those who apply their patented technology to address humanitarian needs.
In his State of the Union address, President Obama stated that, ““Innovation is what America has always been about.” Director of the USPTO, David Kappos, hopes that the upcoming program will inspire businesses in all industries to focus their efforts and patented technology on dealing with the world’s challenges.
Winners of the competition will receive a certificate that can be used to accelerate processing at the USPTO. In the first year, 50 winners will be chosen by a panel of expert judges selected from different fields related to medicine, law, science, public policy, and more. Each application will be placed into one of four categories for consideration: medical, information technology, food and nutrition, and clean technology.
The competition will remain open until August 31st, 2012. After the deadline for applications, judging will continue through the end of the year.
Both the USPTO and the White House are hoping that the pilot program will help to advance the President’s global development agenda, by exposing and rewarding the best examples of companies using patent rights to serve others in the world. The competition should also help to shine a light on the power and importance of innovation when it comes to confronting some of our biggest challenges as a species.
The application has not been launched yet, but the competition starts March 1st, so keep a lookout for it.
Recently, mobile patent litigations have clouded the media. Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Windows – the company names and infringement claims seems to be endless. With suits, followed by countersuits, followed only by more suits between the world’s leading industry giants, the IP experts have their hands full.
With more than enough money to throw into their legal claims, mobile companies are continuously pulling products from store shelves only to quickly put them back on, all while trying to create obstacles for those who have done the same to them. Back and forth, over and over again, never to be settled.
Apple recently pulled the iPad and iPhone from stores in Germany, after a ban was placed on the products when Motorola claimed that Apple used their 3G technology illegally. Don’t expect Apple to go down without a fight. The company has already filed several countersuits against Motorola, and claims that their products will return to stores very shortly.
Meanwhile, Apple has expanded its lawsuit against Samsung in Australia from three claims of patent infringement to 278. Apple no longer holds these claims to just one Samsung device, the Galaxy Tab 10.1, but now says a total of 10 devices are allegedly breaking the law. Samsung plans on filing a defense, though it may not be until later in the year.
In the end, none of these existing technologies will be permanently removed from the market. That doesn’t seem to be the point of such legal actions. Simply putting a temporary hiatus on another company’s technological advancements seems to be enough. It’s a continual obstacle course – a roadrunner and coyote type of game- that will never truly have a winner.
Recently, Solar Eclipz, a San Marino based small business, received a patent for the ezShade, a portable sun shield designed to help reduce the risk of cancer. Made from a lightweight UPF 50+ fabric, this special shade blocks over 99% of cancer causing UVA and UVB rays and instantly attaches to any portable umbrella or canopy.
Solar Eclipz owner and ezShade designer Linda Varga came up with concept while constantly catching too much sun at her family’s sporting events. Varga recognized that her traditional portable umbrella only blocked direct UV rays and could offer only so much shade. Her solution was to create a vertical panel that easily attaches to an umbrella or canopy and provides consistent shade while blocking reflected UV rays.
Even while sitting in the shade of a traditional umbrella, 1/3 of reflected UV rays that cause cancer can still reach your skin. The ezShade blocks these dangerous rays and keeps you cooler with twice as much shade as a normal canopy. Multiple shades can even be used to create a portable privacy enclosure.
They weigh less than 9 ounces, and come equipped with hook and loop fasteners for easy height adjustment. Simply attach the ezShade using the included peel and stick strips, for added protection in a matter of seconds. When you’re ready to pack up and get going, the ezShade can be conveniently rolled and stored/transported in its matching tote.
Now, officially patented and endorsed by the Melanoma International Foundation, the ezShade is one of a kind. Sold at stores like Sport Chalet, Toys R Us, and Cabela’s, this unique shade provides an easy, safe way to enjoy the outdoors.
In November of 2011, the USPTO opened an exhibit showcasing The Patents and Trademarks of Steve Jobs: Art and Technology that Changed the World. Free to the public, the commemorative display will continue to reside in the atrium of the Madison Building until February 25th.
If you happen to visit the site of the exhibit, you’ll find a display of over 300 patents that list the infamous Steve Jobs among the group of inventors, from the iPod and other related gadgets to the glass staircases found in many of the Apple stores. Kappos states that “his patents and trademarks provide a striking example of the importance intellectual property plays in the global marketplace.” The patents and trademarks that Jobs helped to create are what gave the Apple company its popular and recognizable identity.
Steve Jobs and his partner, Steve Wozniak, first launched Apple Computer Inc. in January of 1977. For the next two decades, Apple manufactured personal computers, releasing a continuum of new models like Apple II and Macintosh. However, the company really took off when Jobs, after a brief disappearance, returned in 1996 to become the company’s CEO.
In 2001, with the incredibly successful release of the iPod, Apple dropped the Computer from its name, and continued on as a leader in the consumer electronics industry. Jobs’ simple and streamlined product philosophy is no doubt responsible for the company’s remarkable success. As of 2011, Apple is considered the largest technology firm in the world with over $60 billion in annual revenue.
The exhibit, created by Invent Now, Inc., offers a glimpse into the innovative business life of Steve Jobs. If you happen to find yourself in the vicinity of Alexandria, VA you should stop in and marvel at the free display. While you’re there, you may also have an interest in visiting the National Inventors Hall of Fame and Museum.
Tomorrow, January 18th 2012, Congress will reconvene to discuss the future of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect Intellectual Property Act, both intended to stop cyber piracy of U.S. intellectual property abroad.
While the film, fashion, and music industries all seem in strong support of the bills, others including a multitude of internet companies like Google, Youtube, and Wikipedia are in strong disagreement.
If the new bills go into effect, internet sites of any kind with copyright-infringing content could be shut down, completely altering the Web forever. Some say it’s a matter of freedom of speech, and others that the damage that bills like SOPA have the ability to inflict upon the current internet infrastructure would no doubt be irreparable.
In protest to the legislations, Reddit.com began a campaign earlier this week to blackout its site on January 18th. Wikipedia, one of the most highly trafficked sites in the world, will follow Reddit’s lead. Others, like Mozilla, and Boing Boing will also be joining the fight.
Though they plan to pull SOPA off the shelf for discussion tomorrow, even Congress has shown some concern over the bill. Over the weekend, the White House spoke firmly that the bill was not yet near passing, but it is open to revision in order to support online privacy.
According to a recent CNET news report, the corporations in opposition of the latest bill “wrote a letter to key members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, saying SOPA poses ‘a serious risk to our industry's continued track record of innovation and job creation, as well as to our nation's cyber security.’”
Tomorrow, some of the biggest internet sites on the Web will go dark. Even the big organizations keeping their servers up tomorrow, like Google and Twitter, are keeping a close eye on the bill’s progress.
When it comes to the International Consumer Electronics Show, TVs are big news. In 1998, the HDTV was premiered only break into the mainstream about five years later. In 2009, the CES previewed the 3D TV, though it has yet to catch on with the majority of consumers. This year, the biggest buzz has surrounded an even newer model. This past Monday, LG Electronics introduced “the world’s thinnest, largest and lightest” 55-inch OLED TV.
OLED (organic light-emitting diodes) screens (rather than the current plasma, or liquid crystals) produce a clear, crisp picture with deep saturated colors. Some newer smart-phone models use the technology, but it has yet to be used to manufacture larger screens. Could this be the next incredible thing that tempts consumers to ditch their recently purchased plasmas for something even more high-end?
Samsung also revealed its version of the 55-inch OLED that same day, stating that it is “the ultimate in picture quality.” Expected to be priced at around $8,000, both companies say that their sets will reach the mainstream market sometime this year.
As if that isn’t enough, some companies are even working on voice and movement controlled TV technologies. Say goodbye to the remote control, you may be manipulating your television set with voice commands or certain gestures.
Also, if you can’t go through a thirty minute program without checking your Facebook status, worry no more! Studies show that most people watch TV with their phone within reach allowing them to chat or update friends on what they’re watching. It’s possible that in the near future, you’ll have the option of checking social-network updates on your TV. Panasonic is even working on a split-screen feature that lets you Skype and chat while watching a program.
You may be satisfied for the time being, but don’t get too attached to your plasma screen. If the CES is just a small preview of what’s to come in the following year or two, there are some amazing technologies just on the horizon.
Microsoft was recently issued a patent for an updated mapping technology in the Windows Phone 7 smartphone software. The invention is aimed toward a more walking-friendly market, providing pedestrians with safety, weather, and terrain information.
Unsafe neighborhoods are among the conditions noted on the user’s device, giving walkers the opportunity to “avoid the ghetto.” This may, however, lead to some pretty risky legal implications. Google Inc., a company already too familiar with the type of technology was sued after someone followed their walking directions onto a busy highway and was hit by a car.
Some feel that Microsoft’s latest patent is heading for a similar fate. Say, for instance, someone using a “ghetto free” route from the system ends up getting mugged or assaulted along the way. Would that cause them to sue Microsoft because the route was supposed to be “safe”?
The product would, however, be a definite differentiation between Microsoft and its rivals. It would also set Microsoft in an ideal position for long-term marketing strategy. Stores, restaurants, and other services may be able to integrate advertisements to targeted pedestrians with a particular set of directions. If a person were to walk by a sporting goods store, the device might point out a sale on walking or running shoes.
There has recently been talk from several companies of the need for better route generation for individuals that travel by foot or even bicycle. Densely populated cities and economically challenged areas are often full of a majority of people that don’t even own a car, and generally take to getting around on foot.
If Microsoft gets this technology up and running, it could be the start of an entirely new market.