Jamie Oliver invented something ‐ not a Pasta or Welsh Rarebit, but a Crusher Blender; Alain Passard patented his apple rosebuds; Martin Berasategui protected his mayonnaise‐in‐a‐carton; and Michel Bras patented his pasta cones. Not quite what I expected.
Read moreWe can learn so much from Dolce & Gabbana about how to design clothes and create a brand. But they're particularly awful at design registrations.
Patents that migrated the classic Italian, circular flat, pizza‐oven cooked, trattoria‐served meal into a consumer‐era German Dr Oetker ready‐to‐eat, devil‐may‐care‐shaped, home‐heated snack …
You won't believe how much technology went into "ice cream in a cone". If those tubby little dairy scientists were put in charge of the space program, we would likely have put a soft‐serve on the moon in the 40s.
Here's the truth: most software apps grasp at any excuse to file a patent. Whether the patent actually protects the app isn't relevant. In this transient cyberworld, "deterrence", "marketing" and "perceived value" is much more important that "protection".
Who can forget Fredy Vasilev's notorious pitch on Dragons' Den (2013)? The pitch that scored a record 1.5 million views on YouTube. A pitch so terrible, the channel sadistically extended the insert.
The humble breakfast cereal, begotten as an oat in milk, rapidly evolved into the puffed, peanut‐butter flavoured, corrugated‐concave‐topped "ready to eat" treat for which we eject from bed today. Corn Flakes, Wheat Flakes, Honey Loops, Golden Grahams, All Bran, Shredded Wheat, Fruit 'n Fibre, and lots more.
The Discovery VITALITY rewards system is protected by a simple business method patent … a patented method that monitors members' use of health‐related facilities / services, the end‐goal being to charge a re‐activation fee if under‐utilised.
Fisher Price loved marking their products "Patent Pending", but adding patent numbers they liked not so much. See all the Fisher Price classics: Jolly Jalopy, Little Music Box, Action Garage, School House, Musical Chime, Corn Popper, Music Box Pocket Radio, Chatter Telephone and Little Snoopy.
Outrageous Designs ‐ successful Design Registrations that someone would likely have discouraged you from filing.
The second most viewed YouTube clip of Dragons' Den (with just under 1.6 million views) is Derek Cozens' FlowSignals - a series of flashing lights that Derek likely nicked off K.I.T.T. and stuck on traffic lights. Why anyone would want to do that is beyond me. Why someone would spend good money patenting it is bonkers. But, this Derek did, with surprising results.
You would've expected McDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut to have left little room for copying. Not quite. Their investment in patents has been erratic ‐ patenting menu items you never knew existed; and leaving their showstoppers unprotected.
Levi Roots was an instant hit on Dragons' Den. With a little ditty on his guitar, Keith Graham (aka Levi Roots) walked away with a piece of Peter Jones' heart and £50,000 of Peter's money for 40% equity.
iTeddy - the stripper bear that flashes a multimedia device. During Imran Hakim's pitch to the Dragons, Imran claimed his Teddy was patented. Seriously? I recall having a tinkle‐tinkle Teddy as a kid. Can't quite recall the name, because in those days toy makers were not big on branding. Why go with something catchy like iTeddy, when you can say more with more, like "Bantam Brown Plush Musical Teddy Bear Wind Up Music Box Stuffed".
Get a "Patent Pending Number". Coin a new Trademark "Pro-V". And, become the #1 selling shampoo Worldwide. A BIG double thumbs up!. You don't get to #1 on a tailwind of luck. Pantene had to do something exceptional ⁴ implement a plan so tricksy; so cunning; so simple. So good. So very good, it could even help Gill stage a comeback.
Most parents have the fondest memories of Kinder Surprise Eggs. I bet you also recall the pang of disappointment when happening upon the "new" Kinder egg. What made this wonderful Surprise into such a Disappointment? If you listen to Ferrero, it was bloody Health & Safety and the expansion of Nancy's city limits beyond France. But, actually it had more to do with patents.
Sliced bread was a good invention. But, it wasn't the best. Here are some of the great bread inventions.
In 2010, Stuart Archbold appeared on Dragons' Den offering 10% equity for £250,000. They nearly secured £1m for 45% equity from Peter Jones. But, this was only when Peter realised that their SHOPBOX was patented.
Trademarks can be much more than mere Words and Logos. They can protrude into areas that are generally considered the domain of patents and designs …
Trunkis: those pesky, pansy, $100 pseudo cases that A.D.Ds frog around - whizzing, darting, buzzing; filled with lumo bracelets, Play-Doh, Spot the Dog and multi-coloured bloody pens. Check-in your bags, stroller, Big fluffy Panda, snorkel. Enough? No. More … add a Trunki!
Like our page on facebook:
