- Your IDiyas USPTO weekly Patent trends and update
- Posts
- IDiyas Inventors Newsletter August 12, 2025
IDiyas Inventors Newsletter August 12, 2025
š«§ This Invention Failed Twice, and then Popped Into a Billion-Dollar Business.
In partnership with
For the Inventor. By the Inventor.
See this week's breakthrough USPTO patent grants!
Former Zillow exec targets $1.3T market
The wealthiest companies tend to target the biggest markets. For example, NVIDIA skyrocketed nearly 200% higher in the last year with the $214B AI marketās tailwind.
Thatās why investors are so excited about Pacaso.
Created by a former Zillow exec, Pacaso brings co-ownership to a $1.3 trillion real estate market. And by handing keys to 2,000+ happy homeowners, theyāve made $110M+ in gross profit to date. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.
No wonder the same VCs behind Uber, Venmo, and eBay also invested in Pacaso. And for just $2.90/share, you can join them as an early-stage Pacaso investor today.
Paid advertisement for Pacasoās Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.
Table of Contents
This Week's Patent News:
š Pfizer, BioNTech Settle COVID Vaccine Patent Dispute with CureVac. Pfizer and BioNTech agreed to pay $790 million to CureVac and GSK to settle a U.S. patent infringement case over mRNA vaccine technology. One of the largest biotech IP settlements, highlighting the high stakes in vaccine innovation.
š± Fintiv Accuses Apple of Trade Secret Theft. Fintiv filed suit in Georgia, alleging Apple stole mobile wallet technology and engaged in corporate racketeering. Could reshape how courts handle trade secrets in fintech.
š¬ JUUL Labs Sues NJOY and Altria for Patent Infringement. JUUL filed a patent lawsuit in Arizona targeting vaping tech used by NJOY and Altria. Continues the legal war in the e-cigarette industry over device innovation.
š Nike Loses Key Flyknit Patent in Lululemon Dispute. Nikeās Flyknit patent was invalidated by the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board after Lululemon presented prior art. A major setback for Nikeās IP strategy in athletic footwear.
š§ EPOās G1/25 Referral Could Reshape European Patent Practice. The Enlarged Board of Appeal is reviewing the ādescription amendmentā rule, which could change how patents are drafted and examined in Europe. A pivotal moment for European patent law and applicant strategy.
New weekly USPTO Patents data have been added.
Entity Type / Patent Type | Large (> 500 Employees) | Small (ā¤ 500 Employees) | Micro (Small Entity) |
Utility | 4,632 | 1,510 | 129 |
Design | 372 | 330 | 186 |
Plant | 3 | 7 | 1 |
*Where one patent can have more than one assignee, Entity data assignment as of August 5, 2025
š«§ This Invention Failed Twice, and then Popped Into a Billion-Dollar Business
How a Failed Wallpaper Idea Sparked a Packaging Revolution and Launched Sealed Air?In 1957, engineers Alfred W. Fielding and Marc Chavannes attempted to create a textured plastic wallpaper by sealing two shower curtains together, trapping air bubbles between them. The concept failed as interior decor, and subsequent efforts to market it as greenhouse insulation were unsuccessful. However, recognizing its cushioning properties, they repurposed the material as protective packaging. |  |
In 1960, they founded Sealed Air Corporation, introducing "Bubble Wrap" as their flagship product. A pivotal moment came when IBM adopted Bubble Wrap to protect its 1401 computers during shipping, establishing its reputation in the packaging industry.
Today, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Sealed Air continues to innovate in packaging solutions, including sustainable versions of Bubble Wrap made from recycled materials. The company's journey from a failed wallpaper experiment to a packaging industry leader exemplifies the power of adaptability and innovation.
š Every invention has a backstory. Most of them arenāt clean, pretty, or planned. At IDiyas, we dig up the real stories, so your next idea doesnāt die at āfailureā. IDiyas, the only newsletter for inventors, creatives, and curious minds. |  Subscribe to IDiyas. Itās free, fun, and full of invention. |
Trivia
Who invented the term āArtificial Intelligenceā?
Please scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to find out.
Featured Inventor
š§ āļøš” Inventor, Lawyer, Disruptor: Gary Shusterās Patent-Packed Double Life
Gary Shuster isnāt your typical patent attorney. Sure, he understands the law, but heās also written it dozens of times, in the form of more than 250 granted U.S. patents. Based in California but proudly Canadian by birth, Shuster straddles two worlds: one of legal precision, the other of boundless imagination. Think of him as a mix between a Silicon Valley hacker and a constitutional scholar, except his hacks are legal, and his startup pitch decks often come with claims charts. |  |
Shusterās inventions range from the clever (methods for digital voting and targeted advertising) to the kind of ideas that make you ask, āWait, hasnāt that already been invented?ā Spoiler: If it had, Gary probably would have found a better way to do it and filed the patent. Heās been ahead of the curve on everything from virtual goods to voice-controlled devices long before Alexa made it cool to talk to your furniture.
But itās not just about patent counts. Shuster has built his open-innovation platforms, advocates for the ethical use of patents, and occasionally rants about tech monopolies like someone who knows just enough to fix them. Heās also written on First Amendment law and how IP intersects with digital freedom because, of course, he has.
In a world where inventors are often narrowly specialized, Gary Shuster is refreshingly ... abundant. Whether he's prototyping the next big thing or debating Section 101, one thingās sure: Shuster doesnāt just think outside the box. He files claims on it.
Effective immediately, we are pleased to announce that Gary will be joining IDiyas as our Chapter Head for both Vancouver and Seattle. He joins Chapter Heads: James Jorasch, New York, NY; Jean-Marc Jot, San Jose, CA; and Misha Ghosh, Charlotte, NC.
Master ChatGPT for Work Success
ChatGPT is revolutionizing how we work, but most people barely scratch the surface. Subscribe to Mindstream for free and unlock 5 essential resources including templates, workflows, and expert strategies for 2025. Whether you're writing emails, analyzing data, or streamlining tasks, this bundle shows you exactly how to save hours every week.
Today in Patent History
š§µ Stitching a Revolution: Singerās 1851 Patent That Transformed Sewing Forever
On August 12, 1851, Isaac Merritt Singer was granted a U.S. Patent for the first practical and commercially viable sewing machine. Unlike earlier models, Singerās design featured a straight needle moving up and down, a presser foot to hold fabric in place, and an overhanging arm for greater control. It incorporated elements from previous inventors like Elias Howe but improved usability and reliability, making it ideal for home and industrial use. Singerās machine revolutionized garment manufacturing and launched the Singer Sewing Machine Company, which became a global brand and household name in mechanized stitching. |  U.S. Patent No. 8,294 |
Introducing New Data Products and Enhancements
UpFront Research Reports Vault
š”From INVENT to INVEST ā Just One Letter (and One Vault) Away |
INVENT and INVEST are nearly identical. Swap the N for an S, and you turn ideas into impact. |
Thatās no accident. |
We used to price each of our reports at $500 a pop. Now? You get the entire Vault, packed with inventor/investor-grade research for just $500/month or $5,000/year (thatās 2 months free). As a subscriber, youāll also get exclusive access to request two custom reports each month at no extra cost ā tailored insights, on demand. |
Because every bold invention needs insight, validation, and backing. |
To invent is to imagine. |
Please click here to learn more. |
HR is lonely. It doesnāt have to be.
The best HR advice comes from those in the trenches. Thatās what this is: real-world HR insights delivered in a newsletter from Hebba Youssef, a Chief People Officer whoās been there. Practical, real strategies with a dash of humor. Because HR shouldnāt be thanklessāand you shouldnāt be alone in it.
Centurion Patentors
Congratulations to last week's Centurion Patentors!
We are excited to welcome the following inventors into these prestigious patent clubs:
Trivia
Answer: John McCarthy coined the term "artificial intelligence" in 1955 at the 1956 Dartmouth Conference, marking the official beginning of AI as a scientific field.
In Partnership With
Own a share in your own gold mine
This Company with a pre-money valuation of only C$3million is completing a C$3million seed equity raise for the restart of the fully permitted Gold Road mine in Arizona, USA. The current low company valuation offers near-term potential for a significant re-rating from the production start, a public quotation, and an additional one million ounces of gold exploration upside.
The cost to build Gold Road from scratch today would be close to US$100 million and management plans to grow production to 20,000 ounces of gold per year in 2025/26. In a strong gold price environment this could lead to a US$40+million EBITDA in 2026 and potential for a very healthy dividend yield paid in physical gold and silver.
Management has a proven track record and plans to go public in Q1 2026.
Learn More
Any claims made in advertising content are not researched, verified, or endorsed by IDiyas.
Reply