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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. National Inventors Hall of Fame Induction – At the ceremony on May 11, 2025, Commerce Secretary Lutnick expressed strong support for inventors, stating that they now have an advocate within the U.S. Patent Office.

2. GAO Criticizes USPTO Oversight – A report released on May 8, 2025, found that the USPTO’s efforts to improve patent examination are hindered by poor planning and inadequate oversight.

3. Patent Dispute Over AI-Generated Content – A federal judge ruled on May 8, 2025, that AI-generated content cannot be patented under current U.S. law, setting a precedent for future intellectual property cases involving artificial intelligence.

4. Amazon’s Crackdown on Counterfeiters – On May 7, 2025, Amazon intensified its legal actions against counterfeiters, filing multiple lawsuits in collaboration with intellectual property owners to combat unauthorized replicas of popular products.

5. Ninth Circuit Decision on Patent Royalties – On May 9, 2025, the Ninth Circuit reinforced the Brulotte rule against post-expiration patent royalties, clarifying that courts should assess such cases strictly as legal matters rather than based on negotiation history.

How a Forgotten Wallpaper Cleaner Became Every Child’s Favorite Toy

Fast-forward to the 1950s, when the invention's fortunes took a whimsical turn. As coal heating gave way to gas and electricity, the wallpaper cleaner faced obsolescence. Enter Kay Zufall, a nursery school teacher and the sister-in-law of Noah’s nephew, Joseph McVicker. Zufall noticed kids loved playing with the cleaner during arts and crafts and suggested repurposing it as a modeling compound. After some rebranding, some added colors, and voila, Play-Doh was born.

Joseph and Noah McVicker launched it in 1956 under the Rainbow Crafts Company. Play-Doh hit toy shelves with gusto, eventually catching the attention of toy giant Hasbro, which acquired the brand in 1991. By then, over 700 million pounds of Play-Doh had been sold, enough to sculpt an empire.

What began as a mundane cleaner became an iconic toy, proving that innovation isn’t just about invention; its about seeing potential where others see utility. And let’s face it, turning wallpaper grime into endless hours of childhood joy is nothing short of genius.

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

The Sonic Architect: How Sven Kordon Quietly Shaped the Future of Digital Audio

One of Kordon's notable achievements is his work on capturing and compressing sound fields using the Ambisonics representation, a full-sphere surround sound format. His contributions have significantly advanced the capture and compression of three-dimensional sound fields, enhancing the realism and immersion of audio experiences, and have been standardized in the well-known MPEG-H 3D Audio standard.

Throughout his career, Kordon has demonstrated a remarkable ability to shepherd projects from initial research through to final implementation and customer engagement. His work has not only pushed the boundaries of audio technology but has also had a tangible impact on the ways in which sound is experienced in various applications, from consumer electronics to professional audio systems.

Kordon's dedication to advancing audio technology continues to influence the industry, reflecting a blend of deep theoretical knowledge, practical implementation skills, and effective communication. His contributions have left an indelible mark on the field, setting a high standard for innovation and excellence in digital audio engineering.

Schick's military career, which included service during the Spanish-American War and World War I, provided him with experiences that influenced his inventions. Drawing inspiration from military equipment, he developed the Magazine Repeating Razor in 1921, which utilized a mechanism similar to a repeating rifle to load blades. This innovation allowed users to change blades without direct contact, enhancing safety and convenience. The success of this product provided Schick with the capital to further develop his electric razor concept.

By 1927, Schick had refined his electric razor design to be more compact and user-friendly. In 1928, he sold his interests in the Magazine Repeating Razor Company to focus entirely on his electric shaver. He founded Schick Dry Shaver, Inc., and began marketing his product. Despite launching during the onset of the Great Depression, the electric shaver gained popularity for its convenience. By 1937, over 1.5 million units had been sold.

Jacob Schick's invention paved the way for modern electric shaving devices, influencing subsequent designs and leading to the widespread adoption of electric razors. His contributions significantly impacted the personal grooming industry, offering a convenient alternative to traditional wet shaving methods.

For a visual overview of this historical milestone, you might find the following video informative:

How to find new inventors who have received fewer than 10 patents in the last two years? Here are the new filters available on the 'Top Inventors' page.

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: 38 (since 1976), for more details, click here

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