Intellectual Property for Elementary/Middle School

A Product of Creativity in BloomSal Anastasi and Scott Daniels

2010

“Heavier than air flying machines are impossible”

Lord KelvinRoyal Society President 1895

“In the future computers may weigh no more than 1.5 tons”

Popular Mechanics Magazine, 1949

“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers”

Thomas Watson, IBM Chairman, 1943

“This telephone has too many shortcoming to be seriously considered as a means of communications. This device is inherently of no value to us.”

Western Union, Internal Memo, 1876

“An amazing invention but who would ever want to use one?”

Spoken by Rutherford B. Hayes, President of the United States after making a telephone call from Washington D.C. to Pennsylvania with Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone patented on March 7, 1876

“…too different from other juveniles [books] to warrant its selling.”

1937, Rejection of Dr. Seuss’ book, And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street.

Understanding Intellectual Property

Q: What is intellectual property?

A: Intellectual property is a product of the mind and human intellect.

Q: Why is intellectual property important?

Q: Why is intellectual property important?

A: These products, “ideas” “inventions” and “creations” have commercial value - $$$.

Article I, Section [8] of the U.S. Constitution gives the power to the Congress “To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited time to authors and inventors the exclusive rights to their respective writings and discoveries.”

Q: How can you protect your intellectual property ?

●Patents●Trademarks ●Copyrights●Trade secrets

An Example

• The Slinky– Is/was it patentable?– Can it be protected with Trademark?– Copyright?– Trade secret?

Q: What is the difference between patents, trademark, copyright and trade secret?

Q: What is the difference between patents, trademark, copyright and trade secret?

A PATENT gives an inventor the right to exclusive use of their invention for a limited period of time. (20 years)

Q: What is the difference between patents, trademark, copyright and trade secret?

TRADEMARKS protect the unique name, design, logo, symbols or colors used by a business to identify their products or services.

Q: What is the difference between patents, trademark, copyright and trade secret?

COPYRIGHT protects creative and artistic expressions for example, books, drawings, paintings, computer programs and music.

Why does one invent, or create something new, or improve on a known product?

● Solve a problem, cure a disease, expand human knowledge.

● Make a known device better, i.e. Improve it.

● Catch consumers attention.

● Make $.

So...how does one go about inventing?

1) Set a goal, dream, imagine! Do not limit yourself by existing science, theories or other's beliefs.

2) Write it down! Keep your journal or “inventor's notebook” with all your goals and ideas.

3) Experiment, develop, modify and construct your invention.

So...how does one go about inventing?

4) Keep your ideas, inventions and creations confidential, secret.

Genius is 1 % inspiration and 99 % perspiration.Thomas Alva Edison