Blog
My Blog is dedicated to the history of intellectual property rights, and especially to historic patents, trademarks and industrial design rights.
Everything that can be invented has been invented.
CHARLES H. DUELL, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE US PATENT OFFICE (1899)
Levi’s Patents
Many people believe that Levi Strauss invented the first jeans, but that is not true. The real inventor jeans was Jacob Davis, who was listed as the single inventor in the Levi Strauss’s patent.
Minox Patents
Minox is the world’s most famous subminiature camera, which was invented by Walter Zapp and originally manufactured by Valsts elektrotehniskā fabrika (VEF) in Riga, Latvia. The Walter Zapp’s invention was protected by more than 80 patents in 24 countries. It was a genuine masterpiece of engineering and a work of art. Through the years, the Riga-made Minox reached almost a cult status and is a valuable collector’s item nowadays.
Rubik’s Cube Patents
Almost everybody knows the Rubik’s Cube. It is not only widely recognised as the best puzzle toy ever made, but it is also one of the best-sold toys worldwide. The Rubik’s Cube was patented in Hungary. However it had obtained almost no patent protection abroad.