maandag 31 mei 2021

Things we take for granted, pneumatic tires

Now that the weather allows for a nice ride, please remember, whenever you take your bike, that it runs on an invention of John Boyd Dunlop. He obtained a patent for his invention in 1894, complete with inner tube and outer tire...

Until today a company exists, which is bearing the name Dunlop..

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vrijdag 28 mei 2021

Inventions are special, complex or solve intricate problems

Sometimes, you may think that inventions have to be very special, complex and/or solve intricate problems.


Well in the light of relaxing covid measurements, the nice summery weather and the upcoming weekend,
have a look at this:

Quote: "The present invention provides a small umbrella ("Beerbrella") which may be removably attached to a beverage container in order to shade the beverage container from the direct rays of the sun."

Here, the message is: Inventions do not have to be very special, complex or solve any intricate problems...

Enjoy your weekend!

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donderdag 20 mei 2021

Know how and trade secrets...

An alternative to patent protection is keeping everything secret. For products that may not be the best protection. Yet, specific manufacturing techniques may sometimes actually be better protected by secrecy, especially when the final product does not disclose the way it has been made.


The most outspoken Dutch example of a well kept trade secret is that of the way of producing microscopic lenses by Anthoni van Leeuwenhoek... Now some odd 300 years later, still, state of the art research is performed to find out the way he made his lenses......And it appears that he perfected commonly known techniques, at least according to this article: https://lnkd.in/dPNw2Dv

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Boost your patent

Ever thought of getting your patent in a standard? Once in a standard, selling becomes automatic...

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#standard #patent #invention




maandag 17 mei 2021

Top 20 reasons why startups fail

About two years ago, CB-insights published a research on why tech startups fail. They interviewed 102 startups that stopped operations, and listed the results in the image below.

The first reason for failing is that there exists no market for the products or services delivered by the startup. Something that happens similarly with inventions. If the market appears not to be accepting the offers on sale from the startup, or the inventor... that is a strong indication that the startup/inventor fell in love with his or her product, not with his or her client.

The second reason being that the startup runs dry of money. This reason can be closely related to the first reason, if there is no market, or no paying customer, there will inevitably come a time that the money is gone.

The third reason is that there is a lack of the right people... People who can sell, organise, have drive and amazing discipline.

All of these issues, my clients, inventive entrepreneurs are struggling with as well. What are your struggles? What is hindering you in becoming successful? I am very curious about this. If you respond in a DM, I will give you my book "ten mistakes to avoid in protecting your invention" as a thank you gift. It is full of neat tips, to improve your chances of success of your ideas, with a neat IP-strategy scheme on getting the best protection for your ideas. 

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woensdag 12 mei 2021

How do inventors predict the future?

Marty Cooper, the inventor of the cellular telephone was in 1981 convinced that ‘cellular phones would absolutely not replace local wire systems. Even if you project it beyond our lifetimes, it won’t be cheap enough.Well how wrong could he be, some 15 billion smartphones have been produced, that is almost 2 per person on the planet. Inventors underestimate the success of their invention, however more often overestimate the success of their invention. And this can lead to a lot of frustrations.... If you as inventor has had any difficulties in bringing your invention to a success, or have found frustrations in doing so, please let me know. If you respond in a DM or in the comments down below, you will receive my latest book: "seven mistakes to avoid in protecting your invention". There are some very useful tips for inventors in avoiding the most common mistakes made. Best is to DM me in linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrikdelange/ #patents #invention #predicting

dinsdag 11 mei 2021

Build a prototype

Why should you build a prototype of your invention?

To see if it works and to demonstrate to potential clients or investors. Just be aware: A shown or demonstrated invention can no longer be validly protected by a patent...

So: Do not forget to first consider protecting your invention.

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donderdag 6 mei 2021

Can governments make exceptions on patent rights?

 Can governments make exceptions on patent rights?


The answer to this question lies in the regulations of the "trade related intellectual property" (TRIPS) addendum to the WTO treaty.

In the articles 30 and 31 therein, the possibility to set limited exceptions to a patent in force is indeed provided for. In article 30, governments can make exceptions, where for example the public interest weighs heavier than the interest of the patent holder. In article 31, governments can force licenses under certain patented products, again in view of the balance of interest between the public and the patent holder....

So in the end, the patent system is well prepared and designed for the exceptional case of for instance a deadly pandemic.... How cool is that!

For all of you patent holders, do not fear your patents become worthless. This situation is so exceptional that to my knowledge, never before since the draft of the WTO-TRIPS these exceptions have been used...

Yet that the possibility is incorporated in our legal patent framework, is really, really cool!

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dinsdag 4 mei 2021

Less than 1% is electrically driven

 135 years ago, Carl Benz obtained a patent on the first commercially available internal combustion engine driven car. Last year, in 2020 some 78 million motor vehicles have been produced, while the planet now knows some 1.4 billion registered motor vehicles...

Some 11 million registered vehicles on the planet are now powered with electrical power, still a little less that 1 per 100..... Yet, the number of electrically powered vehicles is growing exponentially. We are witnessing a massive technological shift...

It is fun to be alive in these times!

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maandag 3 mei 2021

Do you need an IP strategy ?


Some days ago, a dear friend send me a text message, that only 5% of companies have some form of Intellectual property (IP). He also said that Mona Keizer was trying to boost that number.... Mona Keizer is our vice minister on economic affairs and in that role, she tries to raise the awareness on IP. Companies with IP have on average a substantively higher value. This finding is based on a recent European report on the Value of companies: "Intellectual property rights and firm performance in the European Union" A cool example of this value is reflected in the price of beschuit, a very Dutch type of double baked bread. The "no brand" Beschuit of the Spar supermarket costs 38 cents, while the strongly branded "Bolletje" costs 1,04 euro. Almost triple the pice for 13 of basically the same dry slices of double baked bread. That is what an IP strategy can do. people do believe so much in your brand, that they are willing and prepared to pay triple. Think about this when you consider an IP strategy for your company, IP may do you some good! Subscribe to my newsletter for more on patents and inventions. #patents #inventions #IPstrategy