Jun 14, 2022
For Intellectual Property Day, Brand Protection provider Sentryc presents both successful and bizarre patent entries.
Berlin, April 2022: Listening to music at every turn - with the Walkman, Sony revolutionised media use in 1979 and gave the youth of the time a new form of free entertainment. The Walkman was preceded by a clear patent: one year before the launch of the successful model, Andreas Pavel filed his invention with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA). This is only one case where the registered patent benefited both the invention and the inventor. On the occasion of World Intellectual Property Day on 26 April, which this year has the motto "Intellectual Property and Youth - Innovations for a Better Future", Sentryc presents a few very special applications.
Historically relevant
Hardlyany other invention has been proclaimed by more inventors than the light bulb. Various stories still circulate as to who is actually responsible for the brilliant idea of the glowing metal rods in the glass. Edison had to endure just as many patent disputes. Finally, he admitted that his light bulb was a further development of a patent previously filed by Joseph Swan in Great Britain.
A German, Heinrich Göbel, also vied for the recognition of having made this world-changing discovery - unfortunately without having applied for a patent, neither in the USA nor in Germany. Other numerous examples, such as the periodic table or the telephone, show how often innovators work on the same idea. This makes it all the more important to apply for a patent or a trademark in good time.
Crazy registered
Outside of southern Germany, Weißwurst is one of the rarer dishes. How hungry people should eat this special sausage often raises questions among the untrained. Left hands let the food cool down before it reaches the palate. Then there is the mustard: when and how does the traditional dip belong on the dish? All these imponderables were supposed to be solved by an invention - the white sausage with zip and mustard filling. Unfortunately, the Munich-based office did not grant this creation a patent. Apparently there is nothing to improve about the Weißwurst.
Another curious patent submission was designed to simplify the lives of many women: pantyhose with three legs. Lined up next to each other, a spare leg should always be available in case of a run. The stocking that is not in use is held in place by a loop or pocket-shaped fastener. The application for this idea was withdrawn from the patent office.
Fancy on the road
Google has patented an idea that may soon keep us glued to the road. If a car collides with a pedestrian, the pedestrian is supposed to stick to the front of the car thanks to a special coating. This should prevent the pedestrian from being thrown back and thus prevent worse injuries.
A patent for a pneumatic foot massage in a car promises more relaxing moments in traffic. Integrated into a special foot mat, different elements knead the soles of the passengers' feet by raising and lowering them. As with conventional massagers, this driving version is also to have a control module for individualised control.
Forward-looking submissions
An application to the patent office also grants protection to digital products.For example, cryptocurrencies offer an interesting new opportunity for fraudsters. On fake exchanges, unsuspecting investors buy coins that do not even exist in the investment segment. If the deceived want to withdraw their money, they can no longer reach anyone.
A new participant in the crypto game that, despite its unusual name, makes things clear from the start is Erzcoin. Mining cryptocurrencies from the Erzgebirge sounds like a funny idea. However, the registered trademark does not yet have its own online presence. It is therefore all the more exciting to see if and what we can expect from the coin mine in the future.
Secured online
All registered patent and trade mark registrars are authorised to take action against fraudsters and counterfeiters. However, most methods are only effective after the victim has filled out many applications and made various submissions. Until the plagiarism disappears, the impostors profit and the brand loses money and customers. Software solutions provide victims with a tool to take active and efficient action against rip-off artists.Sentryc enables the removal of fake offers on online and social media platforms with one click and within up to 48 hours. In this way, patent protection quickly takes effect.
About Sentryc
Sentryc GmbH is a technology company founded in 2019 and headquartered in Berlin. With its proprietary brand protection software, the currently 45-strong team led by managing director Nicole Jasmin Hofmann offers companies a digital solution that can be used to detect and stop product piracy and brand abuse on online marketplaces. For this purpose, the online experts provide their customers with a cloud solution that scans websites for products, identifies and documents potential counterfeits and can then automatically report them for deletion. Many well-known companies from B2B and B2C rely on Sentryc's product protection Made in Germany. Prioritising data protection, the company is hosted in Germany and operates in compliance with the GDPR. For more information, visit sentryc.com.Follow Sentryc on LinkedIn.