Post # 28: Mobile Patent Environment

As a final blog and as a snapshot into the mobile patent environment that we have covered this semester, I decided to look at what companies own the most significant amount of mobile patents. In 2012, Samsung received the most Mobile Patents meaning that now it leads the rankings on a global scale; it now holds the most mobile patents of any company worldwide, according to the mobile analyst Chetan Sharma. (The study covered more than 7 million mobile patents awarded in the U.S.)

Interestingly, you can view the state of the leading player’s patent portfolios below:

This is not just an impressive statistic however, it is a clearly strategic move on behalf of Samsung’s top management in order to form a legal defence against Apple and other mobile companies and their legal attacks. At the same time, the greater amount of patents acquired, means that Samsung will be able to form more robust legal assaults if necessary over the next few years.

The study also outlined that the mobile technology arena is specifically on the rise, which I am sure comes as no shock to the students in our course. Furthermore, in the U.S, mobile patents account for around 25% of the total patents granted. This is extremely impressive when this figure is compared to 5% in 2001. Right now, Europe has less of a reliance on mobile patents with only 10% of the whole patent pool being mobile related.

Evidently, mobile patents are a vast and growing part of the economy that cannot be ignored. 

Post # 27: Glass Staircase

After the search to find the most ridiculous patent ever, with the Motorized Ice Cream Cone and the Cry No More from my previous blog posts, I found a series of patents from that could be deemed as strange, but on closer inspection, do have value.

Once again, these patents come from probably the most referenced company from this course – Apple.

Apple is not only well known for its sleek and innovative design of hardware but also its impressive retail outlets that have a strong and individual aesthetic. One of the parts of this individualistic aesthetic is their glass staircases. 

Their Glass Staircase was patented in August 26, 2003 as a design patent with the official registration number D478,999 S:

On a smaller scale, Apple has also patented its purely presentational iPad stand that also appears in stores. It is another design patent, granted from July 3, 2012, with the number D662,939 S:

Although ostensibly irrelevant, these patents provide protection from rival companies where brand image is an essential part to business. These patents demonstrate how far a tech company will go to improve and maintain its brand image and how far companies will go to protect it. 

Post # 26: Cry No More

In a search to find the most ridiculous patent ever, I came across another patent that even surpasses the 1999 Motorized Ice Cream Cone in its ludicrously; the Cry No More.

After the peaceful Motorized Ice Cream Cone that brightens up children’s days, the Cry No More appears even more dreadful. Essentially the Cry No More is a muzzle for infants, stopping their mouth so they are unable to omit any noise. Bearing resemblance to a torcher device, it is described by the inventor as the following:

"The inventive device includes a pacifier having an outwardly extending guard plate, apertures in opposite sides of the guard plate, and adjustable straps employing hook and loop fasteners to form loops for engaging the straps between the apertures in the guard plate and an infant's ears."

What is all the more shocking is that the patent was granted in 2000. Even in the modern age, only 13 years ago, someone believed this idea had value. Ultimately, this patent fails however because its potential benefits are far outweighed by its disadvantages; namely the cruelty enacted upon the child. Indeed, if this patent were to manifest itself in the market, it would most likely fail U.S Department of Health and Human Services laws in its relationship to child abuse and neglect. In this respect, the patent is rendered completely useless.

Post # 25: Motorized Ice Cream Cone

In a search to find the most ridiculous patent ever, I came across the Motorized Ice Cream Cone, which was awarded in 1999.

The description offers the following reasoning:

"The repetitive task of moving one's tongue up and down to manipulate a hollow ring can become monotonous and tiring, especially for a child."

Perhaps this patent could be deemed as useful to an extent – i.e. it rids the need to use your tongue. Perhaps also, it could be seen as an original idea – i.e. the combination of a motorised function along with an ice cream cone is a far-fetched idea. Ultimately, however the overall value of the patent is extremely limited. Not only would the market for this idea be extremely small, the patent evidently lacks economic value. The fact that someone would submit this patent and expect it to be bought by customers is shocking.