Traditionally, companies have used a closed patent strategy designed to protect and prolong the lifecycle of existing technologies from competitors. Patents remain a popular way of safeguarding original work, with almost 188,600 applications received by the EPO in 2021 – a 4.5% increase, showing a significant recovery from the small decline recorded in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Biometric technology has come a long way in recent years. We are using facial and fingerprint recognition more and more in our everyday lives and although technically they can be duped, they are still more secure than traditional security measure like passwords. Biometrics allow accounts to be intrinsically linked to an individual, rather than co-opted by hackers who can guess passwords, making them a promising technology for a world that is increasingly online. With this in mind, could passwords be a thing of the past? And what are the benefits and drawbacks of biometric technology? More…
A global debate around AI and IP ownership has been on-going since the late 2010s. The main issues surround the question of whether AI can legally own IP if AI is not considered to be a legal person. There has been a divide in opinion between national courts, mainly regarding patent ownership, with some ruling in favour of AI and others strongly opposing. Let’s take a closer look at the current landscape of AI ownership of IP and how this is applied more specifically to AI art. More…
Ever since 1421 when the very first patent was recorded in Florence, patents and their protected inventions have helped shape the modern world we live in today. Patents protect inventions, granting their owners exclusive rights over them for a period of time and allowing them to reap financial rewards. They have supported technological and economical advancements, as well as helping to solve problems through innovation. More…
Modern society relies heavily on electricity and requires an increasing number of watts to function. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicted in their 2019 report that global energy demand will increase between 25% and 30% by 2040. Considering how reliant we are on oil and coal, this would increase CO2 emissions thus exacerbating climate change. With this in mind, innovators are turning their attention to more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions such as green hydrogen. The new German Ambassador to the UK, Miguel Berger, who was previously the State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, stated at the Hydrogen for Life 2022 conference that it is crucial we speed up the efficiency of renewable energy, including hydrogen in order to move away from fossil fuels. He also spoke about the potential for Germany and the UK to work together in this area to develop and implement new, innovative solutions more quickly. Let’s take a closer look at what green hydrogen is and the different areas of innovation. More…
The way we live is constantly changed and influenced by inventors and their new inventions. These developments shape the course of history and the future of society. With this in mind, the annual European Inventor Award launched in 2006 by the European Patent office (EPO) aims to celebrate the best and most innovative technological breakthroughs. This year’s winners come from a range of industries, from waste management to medical technology and energy storage. Let’s take a closer look at the award-winning innovations chosen for their contribution to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The rate of new inventions has continued to increase with the European Patent Office (EPO) receiving 188,600 applications in 2021, a 4.5% increase on the previous year and the highest number to date. The number of patent applications – an early indicator of companies’ investments in research and development – increased in nine of the top ten most patent-active fields of technology, with digital communication and computer technology posting the strongest growth. More…
The UN has designated April 21 as “World Creativity and Innovation Day”. It has been established as a day of observance to encourage the use of creativity and innovation as a primary tool in problem solving regarding “all aspects of human development”.
The main goal of this of this day is to encourage both individuals and countries alike to utilise a holistic and creative-centric approach in their efforts to tackle sustainability and human development issues. The UN explained that creativity is important as it “can provide solutions to some of the most pressing problems such as poverty eradication and the elimination of hunger.”
Take a look at the following innovations which are paving the way for the future, with creativity at the forefront of their solutions:
Facebook’s rebranding to ‘Meta’ last year brought renewed attention to the metaverse, driving innovation in both hardware and software technology spaces. The introduction of Meta may be relatively recent but the development and patenting of metaverse technologies has been ongoing for decades. Although some companies already have vast patent portfolios, due to the size of the metaverse space, there are still plenty of opportunities for innovation and patenting. So, what is the metaverse and what innovations are eligible for patent protection? More…
“We must put the principle of equality into action so that science works for women, because it works against them all too often – for example, when algorithms perpetuate the biases of their programmers.” More…
