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Table of Contents

• This Week's Patent News

• Weekly Statistics

• Main Article

• Trivia (question)

• Featured Inventor

• Today in Patent History

• Our Features

• Centurion Patentors

• Trivia (answer)

• Recommendations

This Week's Patent News:

1. Sandoz Sues Amgen Over Alleged Patent Abuse to Block Biosimilar
   Swiss pharmaceutical company Sandoz filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amgen in the U.S., accusing it of using a “thicket of patents” to unlawfully delay the market entry of Erelzi, Sandoz’s biosimilar to the arthritis drug Enbrel. Although Erelzi received FDA approval in 2016, Sandoz claims Amgen’s patent strategy has kept it off the U.S. market, while biosimilars are available in Europe and other regions. Sandoz is seeking an injunction and damages for lost profits.

2. Nokia Targets Acer, Asus, and Hisense in U.S. Patent Lawsuits
   On April 8, Nokia initiated lawsuits in U.S. federal courts against Acer, Asus, and Hisense, alleging infringement of five patents related to video streaming technologies essential to international standards. Nokia asserts that it has attempted to license these patents for years and is now pursuing legal action to enforce its rights. The cases were filed in California, Georgia, and Texas.

3. China Invalidates LG Chem’s Cathode Patent Amid Global Battery Dispute
   China’s intellectual property authority invalidated a key LG Chem patent concerning cathode materials for lithium batteries, citing insufficient detail for reproduction. This decision could impact LG Chem’s ongoing patent infringement lawsuit against Chinese firm Ronbay’s Korean subsidiary, JS Energy. The invalidated patent is part of the same family involved in the Korean litigation.

From Rocket Science to Squeaky Hinges: The Timeless Magic of WD-40

The chemist Norm Larsen tasked the team with creating a water displacement formula to prevent rust and corrosion on Atlas missiles. It was no small feat; nobody wants their missiles to look shabby. Larsen and his colleagues tinkered tirelessly, testing formulas and documenting failures. It wasn’t until their 40th attempt that they struck gold or water-repelling magic. Hence, the name WD-40 is short for Water Displacement, 40th formula. Talk about sticking the landing.

Initially, WD-40 was strictly for military and aerospace use, keeping missiles shiny and rust-free as they sat on the launchpad. But like all significant innovations, its potential soon exceeded its original purpose. By 1958, it was being sold to the general public in spray cans. America quickly discovered its many uses: lubricating door hinges, silencing squeaky wheels, removing adhesive residue, and protecting fishing gear from rust. (Yes, fishermen love WD-40, though there’s no evidence it works as bait, despite rumors.)

What makes WD-40 so captivating is its secretiveness. The formula is a closely guarded trade secret, kept under lock and key as if it were the Coca-Cola recipe or the nuclear codes. Some say the mystique only adds to its allure. Others, including chemists, have probably reverse-engineered it a dozen times, but the magic lies not just in what’s inside but in how its marketed: a product so versatile it might as well moonlight as a life coach.

And so, WD-40 has become more than just a lubricant; its a cultural icon. Its ability to fix almost anything has inspired countless jokes, memes, and an unwritten rule that every DIY toolkit must include. If duct tape is the force that holds the universe together, WD-40 is the grease that keeps it spinning.

Please scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to find out.

In 2009, alongside Jan Koum, Acton co-founded WhatsApp with a focus on privacy, reliability, and an ad-free experience. At a time when most messaging apps were bloated or buggy, WhatsApp delivered clean, efficient communication across platforms. It quietly exploded. By 2014, WhatsApp had over 400 million users. That year, Facebook acquired the company for $19 billion in one of the largest tech acquisitions ever.

But Acton wasn’t done. Disturbed by Facebook’s pivot toward monetization through ads and data, he made the rare move: he walked away, leaving behind hundreds of millions in unvested stock. In 2018, he funded and launched Signal Foundation, the nonprofit behind the end-to-end encrypted Signal app.

Acton is a principled engineer, a figure who has consistently chosen substance over spectacle. He’s not afraid to challenge Silicon Valley’s business model of surveillance capitalism. In a tech world bloated with buzzwords, Brian Acton remains an understated icon of digital integrity, a coder who turned quiet conviction into global impact.

Congratulations to last week's Centurion Patentors!
We are excited to welcome the following inventors into these prestigious patent clubs:

For more info about their research & patents, click here

The answer is:

The first patent (Patent # 1) was issued to John Ruggles of Thomaston, Maine on July 13, 1836, for Traction wheels for locomotive steam-engine for rail and other roads.