Today the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) celebrates the issuance of their 10 millionth patent. That’s seven zeros and a whole lot of creativity.
USPTO calls this feat a “milestone of human ingenuity” – we call it the representation of American leadership in the promotion of art and science and ideas. Protecting intellectual property (IP) is the main impetus for the passage of the Patent Act of 1790 and the reason the first U.S. Patent Board—which boasted famous members like Thomas Jefferson, Henry Knox, and Edmund Randolph—came to be. If not for the Patent Act of 1790 and the U.S. Patent Board (now the USPTO), American innovation may not be what we know and enjoy today.
ACT | The App Association and our members know better than most the value IP and the benefits of the patents that help protect it. After all, IP is the lifeblood and the backbone of our members’ innovations. In celebration of the USPTO’s #10for10Million campaign, we’re highlighting 10 patents we think deserve recognition for their APP-solutely awesome innovations and contribution to the global economy.
- 2. 3. A Selection of iPhone Patents – Apple revolutionized the world in 2007 with the introduction of the iPhone. The iPhone is famously built with hundreds of patents, but patents D558756, D558757, and D580387 can be credited for the look and feel of the original iPhone!
- Inter Vehicle Communication System – *Member Alert* Yes, this is a patent held by our very own member David Bain! Back in 2000, David filed patent US-8307037B2 to facilitate vehicle-to-vehicle communication and is ready to put it to good use for the next generation of connected cars!
- Mobile Internet Access – What we know as 3G was patented as “Mobile Internet Access” in 2000. Patent US-6618592B1 put the internet on our phones, allowing our phones to access GPS and the WORLD!
- Screen Sharing – *Member Alert* Yet another talented member of the App Association is multiple-patent-owner Jim Hansen, the founder and CTO of RevTwo. Jim was awarded patent US-7046134, which allows users to screen share between a hosting device, a remote device, and a viewing device. Sharing is caring!
- Object Tracking – Arguably one of Microsoft’s most helpful patents is US-9443414B2. Object Tracking uses Microsoft’s augmented reality technology, HoloLens, to help users find lost items. Yes, that means your keys will NEVER go missing again… maybe.
- Device Registration Mechanism – *Member Alert* Dale Calder, CEO of App Association member company RevTwo, is the owner of patent US-7149792, an automated device recordation and registration process. This patent has laid important groundwork for the internet of things (IoT) industry and machines’ ability to communicate using the internet!
- Compact Hand-Held Video Game System – In 1992, Nintendo filed for a patent on their electronic gaming machine formally known as the Game Boy. Patent US-5184830 brought hours of entertainment to kids and many hours of peace to parents… at least until the batteries died.
- Mobile Self-Management Compliance and Notification Method System and Computer Program Product – *Member Alert* Howard Rosen, CEO and founder of LifeWIRE, filed patent US-9144381 back in 2005, which provides simple and cost-effective methods to help users self-manage and understand their lifestyle and behavior. Howard holds several patents and has two that are currently pending!”
- And a Bonus for Good Luck! Helmet for Reducing Concussive Forces During Collision – Juliana Bain, former App Association intern and daughter of App Association member (and patent owner) David Bain, is by far the youngest patent owner on our list. Issued when she was just fourteen, her patent, US-13477157 , is for a helmet that reduces peak concussive forces. You go, girl!
We’re thrilled to celebrate the more than 200 years of ingenuity that have brought us 10 million patents for innovations like Morse code, screen sharing, modern beer brewing techniques, and the Game Boy. But to ensure patent law protects IP and supports the next generation of incredible innovations, we must continue to support and improve our patent system.
The future of the $950 billion app economy relies on innovators and their IP. It is critical that we continue updating the patent approval process, protect innovators from pesky patent aggressors, and fight back against the patent criminals who seek to abuse the foundation upon which the patent system is built. To enjoy the benefits of the next 10 million innovative patents, we must challenge patent aggressors’ tricky tactics and combat attempts to issue vague demand letters that assert ownership of patents, intimidate smaller companies into paying exorbitant licensing fees, and/or threaten to sue for patents obtained by abusing the patent system. As we celebrate the ideas that created the mold for our tech-driven world, we must continue to call on Congress, the Supreme Court, and the USPTO to uphold a patent system that supports the IP and creativity of our true innovators.