Strong, consistent IP protections throughout U.S. history enabled the creation of innovative and useful technologies that we use regularly today. From public health to phone calls, every aspect of our lives has benefited greatly from IP, as shown by these historical examples from the month of March:
- 1912: On March 12, Ada Henry Van Pelt received a patent for an electric water purifier that could be used in the home. Her innovation contributed to the rapid eradication of waterborne illnesses in the United States during the early 20th century. It also certainly had economic benefits, as unclean water costs the global economy roughly $260 billion each year.
- 1891: On March 10, Almon B. Strowger received a patent for the automatic telephone exchange. This allowed callers to directly dial numbers without the aid of an operator for the first time, making phone calls significantly more reliable. As of 2023, Americans spent about 4 trillion minutes on phone calls annually, leading to the U.S. telecommunications industry being valued at roughly $468 billion.
- 1821: On March 3, Thomas L. Jennings received a patent for a method of “dry scouring.” His invention laid the foundation for the dry cleaning industry, which is estimated at over $70 billion As the first Black American to receive a patent, Jennings also paved the way for other Black inventors, who have historically been underrepresented in patent applications.