inventions :: Trademark Lawyer Blog

October 1, 2009

EpiPen Inventor Shelden Kaplan Dies

Shelden Kaplan, longtime engineer and innovator, passed away September 21, 2009 from complications resulting from liver cancer. At the fore of Mr. Kaplan’s many accomplishments are the creations of the ComboPen, and EpiPen, respectively.

The ComboPen is used by the military to treat soldiers poisoned by nerve agents. The EpiPen is a later derivative that contains epinephrine and serves to save people with lethal allergies. Millions upon millions of people have acquired prescriptions for EpiPens, and innumerable deaths have undoubtedly been prevented by the device.

What’s amazing about Mr. Kaplan is that he never received any profits, amassed any royalties, or garnered any fame from his invention. I think it’s remarkable that someone would toil away on such a salubrious technology in complete anonymity!

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Posted In: inventions

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September 7, 2009

VIDEO - Do The Dew: The Next Alternative Fuel?

An inventor named Paul Pantone has discovered a way to use Mountain Dew to help power cars. Mr. Pantone has developed the Global Environmental Energy Technology Fuel Processor which is a system that can be retrofitted onto existing internal combustion engines and enables them to run on a mixture that’s up to 80% water. Check out the details of his apparatus in this YouTube video.

Interestingly, Mr. Pantone alleges that he worked on GEET for 25 years until he was framed for securities fraud and committed to a mental ward by seedy businessmen. Supposedly this was retaliation for Mr. Pantone’s refusal to sell his patent. Mr. Pantone goes on to contend that by using GEET, greenhouse gases and emissions from a single car can be reduced by up to 90%!

The jury’s still out regarding the efficacy of GEET as no independent verifications of Mr. Pantone’s claims have been done. Still, the fact that he was issued a patent gives him some measure of credibility. Even if the technology and Mr. Pantone’s history seem somewhat far-fetched, you have to admire his creative spirit!

This is my first blog entry that incorporates video. How did you enjoy it? Is it user-friendly enough? Does it keep your interest better? I need feedback! Please chime in.

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Posted In: VIDEOS & VLOGS , inventions

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August 24, 2009

Green Car Battles: Toyota and GM Jockeying for Pole Position in IP Licensing

Two auto industry titans are duking it out to sell their respective hybrid powertrain technology to other manufacturers and suppliers. Toyota and General Motors, the #1 and #2 carmakers in the world, are approaching competitors to license their slew of patents and other intellectual property to them.

Toyota has long been the preeminent leader in hybrid vehicles, introduced the first-generation of the ubiquitous Prius model with Hybrid Synergy Drive in 2001 and has sold millions upon millions of them. True to form, GM was late to the game and is rushing its plug-in hybrid model to market, the 2010 Chevrolet Volt powered by the Voltec propulsion system.

GM is touting the virtues of the Volt which has garnered preliminary mileage estimates of 230 mpg! At this stage, the 230 mpg claim seems ludicrous, but the Environmental Protection Agency appears to be backing it up.

Do you think 230 mpg is possible? Please post your comments! Up next, I’ll discuss why I think we should reserve judgment as to the efficacy of the Volt.

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June 5, 2009

Valuing Inventions

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It’s one thing to have a patentable invention, but it’s quite another to have a valuable invention. Before seeking a patent, or if you already own a patent, before selling or licensing the rights, it is important to ascertain its monetary value. That way, you will be able to make better decisions regarding whether or not to invest in a patent. Additionally, knowing how much your invention is worth enables you to negotiate more effectively with potential buyers. Practitioners use the following factors to assess the value of a patent.

Is there a market? First determine if anyone would be willing to purchase your invention. To do this, identify whether or not consumers actually need the product. You might accomplish this through personal experience, if the idea for your invention was born out of necessity, for example. This is usually only effective if the situation giving rise to such necessity is common to other people. If a market exists, determine its size. For example, try to figure out if the invention would serve a specialized niche of consumers or a broad base.

Are there comparable products? Another factor is to identify any comparable products already on the market. What are the other products’ price points, and does your invention offer something new? For example, your invention may solve a problem in a specific area in which other similar products already exist. Highly valued products are those offering significantly more benefits than the competition.

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Posted In: inventions

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