IP Progress

On Mar. 1, 1921, magician and showman Harry Houdini was granted U.S. Patent 1,370,316 for a diver’s suit designed to be easily removed underwater in case of emergency. Even the master of escape believed in securing his ideas.

Nothing says winter like hockey. 🏒 This hockey game table design from 1966 allowed you to play the game without braving the cold! How’s your team doing this #NHL season? #TBT 📸28404

Released in 1986, The Legend of Zelda became one of the most successful video game franchises ever 🎮 From trade marks to copyright, licensing & adaptations, its history is full of IP stories. To learn more about IP & gaming explore our Learning Portal: euipo.europa.eu/knowledge/

#OTD 50 years ago, @inventorsHOF Inductee John C. Sheehan received U.S. Patent 3,939,151 for the synthesis of penicillin. After nine years of research, his breakthrough helped expand treatment options for infections globally. 🌎

As fans tune in to the #WinterOlympics, a reminder that inventions like U.S. Pat. 5,784,809 improved snowboard boot flexibility and comfort, while U.S. Pat, 6,523,851 enabled touring bindings for uphill climbs and downhill runs, helping athletes shred with confidence. 🏂

Women have always shaped science, tech & innovation. On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we pay tribute to European women advancing research, improving healthcare & inspiring the next generation. Meet a few European women inspiring the next generation ⤵️

Did you guess correctly? Utility patents last 20 years after the filing date, whereas design patents last 15 years after the issue date.

Test your IP knowledge below this week! How long does a utility patent last after first being filed?

#OnThisDay the Pixar studio was officially established 40 years ago!🎬🎈 From ideas to icons, IP helps great stories become timeless classics.

As the Seahawks and Patriots take the field Sunday, their brands are protected off the field too. Both hold registered trademarks covering logos, mascots, gear, and more—a strong IP defense from kickoff to the final whistle. 🏈

Patents serve to incentivize innovation and protect your intellectual property by giving exclusive rights over your invention for a limited time. Learn more IP facts here: ipprogress.world/ip-101

Inventor Thomas Edison was granted a patent for his “electric lamp” #OTD in 1880. A safer and less expensive alternative to gas lighting, Edison’s invention transformed how American homes, workplaces, and city streets were illuminated.

The Office turned everyday life into TV gold, and a lesson in IP. 🧾 Logo: figurative EU trade mark 📄 Dunder Mifflin: word trade mark 🗞️ The Paper + mobile game Somehow We Manage: also EU trade marks. © Scripts, characters and music: copyright

There is no limit to how many patents you can have, as long as they’re all for separate and unique inventions. Thomas Edison was granted 1,093 U.S. patents in his lifetime, and today, Shunpei Yamazaki has over 20,000. Discover more IP facts: ipprogress.world/ip-101

New Year's resolutions go back thousands of years. Some of these inventions may have helped achieve them: 🏋️‍♀️ An 1877 gymnastics apparatus (No. 187,477) 🥦 A food-prep method that kept frozen food fresh (No. 1,773,079) 📖 A bookmark that marked your exact spot (No. 2,202,787)

Want to hear a secret? Information can qualify as a trade secret when it isn’t known, has commercial value because it is confidential, and reasonable steps are taken to maintain its secrecy. Trade secret protections can theoretically last forever. bit.ly/45no1sp

From bagel-making appliances to filled bagels and even the containers they come in, U.S. patents protect even the carb-heaviest of inventions. #NationalBagelDay

What if a garden could move? 🌱🚲 This “Garden landscape fun display car” turns plants and landscapes into a moving display that’s “high in ornamental value”. Bonus: it sprays water automatically! #WWPatents

Did you guess correctly? Trademarks allow consumers to associate specific goods and services with the companies that provide them. ipprogress.world/ip-101

Test your IP knowledge below! Which of the following types of IP rights prevents competitors from misleading people about who developed a product?