Strong, consistent IP protections throughout U.S. history enabled the creation of innovative and useful technologies that we use regularly today. From offices to outer space, every aspect of our lives has benefited greatly from IP, as shown by these historical examples from the month of December:
- 1974: On December 31, Roger Merrill and Henry Courtney received a patent for the adhesive substance used to produce Post-It notes. Today, the global market for sticky notes is estimated to be worth over $2 billion, and there are more than 1,000 official Post-It products. 3M, the company behind Post-It notes, operates dozens of manufacturing plants across the United States and supports tens of thousands of jobs.
- 1926: On December 28, Earle Dickson received a patent for the Band-Aid adhesive bandage. The product was the first easily applicable adhesive bandage for consumers, creating a brand-new market. The global market for medical bandages is now worth over $8 billion, and 100 billion Band-Aids have been manufactured to date.
- 1916: On December 5, Robert Goddard, known as the “father of rocketry,” received a patent for a liquid-fueled rocket. Goddard’s inventions underpinned significant advances in flight, and he helped develop fighter jets for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Goddard’s innovations are best known today for laying the foundation for spaceflight.