An Unexpected Introduction to Intellectual Property When I began working for Chevron, I imagined my work would focus solely on explaining the technical complexities of oil, gas, and energy to clients. That expectation began to shift when I worked on an assignment involving a new and patented motor oil and became curious about the patent protecting it and its purpose. I didn’t expect my path … Continue reading Fueling Innovation: How a Patent Changed My Perspective

Some scholars are calling 2026 the “year of the moon.” Why? NASA, for the first time since the Apollo missions of the late 1960s and early 70s, sent astronauts to orbit the moon. But NASA is not alone. Joining the moon party this year are the Chinese, who are sending a lunar robot to study the moon’s south pole. Private companies like Blue Origin, Firefly, … Continue reading The Year of the Moon: Patents at the Edge of Outer Space

As a new golfer working tirelessly on my (sometimes inconsistent) swing, I discovered something about the sport that goes beyond fairways and putting greens. I discovered the enormous field of golf patents, where innovation meets fierce competition. From multi-layered golf balls to the aerodynamic secrets hidden in club faces, there’s an extraordinary number of patents in this industry—22,000 since 1976, to be precise! What surprised … Continue reading Patent Wars on the Fairway: How Obviousness Plays a Role in Golf Patents

Patent law is often thought to incentivize and benefit inventors. Patent holders have exclusive rights restricting others from making, using, selling, offering to sell, and importing into the U.S. their patented invention. However, the constitutional clause founding patent law aims to benefit the greater public by promoting the progress of science and useful arts. One of the ways patent law helps promote the progress of science is through the Enablement Requirement.

Continue reading “Patent Enablement – For the Greater Good of the General Public”

Startups and Their (Non)Obvious Patents Many products and services we use every day are inventions from startups that were innovative, new, and exciting at the time they were created. For example, many of us now use, and take for granted, Uber for transportation or Square to easily pay with credit cards at restaurants or stores. While these companies’ platforms might be obvious to us now, … Continue reading Startups and Their (Non)Obvious Patents