Forget ‘snake oil’, now it’s ‘holy water’ for sale

According to a BBC news item today a South Korean professor who claimed he could make tap water into holy water is in trouble with the police. Prof Kim, claimed he could digitally capture the elements of holy water from Lourdes, France, that believers say has healing powers. He had sold to more than 5,000 people, making almost £870,000.

We have seen a few ‘snake oil sales‘ people coming into the Business & IP Centre over the years. But, I’ve not come across anyone selling water with magical properties so far.

Ironically, it now appears that snake oil may have some beneficial properties – Snake Oil Salesmen Were on to Something

Intellectual Property: A Success Story To Be Extended?

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I’ve just been reminded of one of my  more scary speaking engagements of recent times. It was back in January 2009 at the invitation of Professor Michael Mainelli, Emeritus Gresham Professor of Commerce at Gresham College.

It was at the Real Time Club. Founded in 1967, the Real Time Club is believed to be the world’s oldest IT dining Club. The Club is dedicated to participative events that provide “rapid responses to the challenges of the information society”.

My fellow speakers were:
Professor Ian Angel
, who is Professor of Information Systems at the London School of Economics and also Chairman of Creative Commons (England and Wales).
David Bunting, who is CEO of Trevor Baylis Brands plc (a company which he setup with Trevor Baylis), which provides route-to-market services for inventors and entrepreneurs. David is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and a Fellow of the CMA,
Richard Overden, who is an Associate Director of Oxford University’s Bodlian Library and Keeper of Special Collections. Prior to that he worked at Durham University Library, the House of Lords Library, and at the University of Edinburgh.
Tony Pluckrose, who is a Partner at Boult Wade Tennant and also a Chartered and European Patent Attorney.

Here is a brief report from the evening:

Some 40 members and guests of the Real Time Club attended the first dinner of 2009 to debate the subject of: “Intellectual Property: A Success Story to be Extended? Just Desserts or Global Gridlock?” The Chairman, Mark Holford welcomed the guests and then handed over to the evening’s host, Professor Michael Mainelli, who is also the club’s Vice President.

The format of the evening was a brief (three minute) statement by each of the panel of speakers, followed by a lively and challenging debate, to which everyone present made a contribution.

The introductory sessions posed a series of challenges. These included:

* “Is Intellectual Property protection being mis-sold?” Inventors often do not understand patent protection – they have a great idea, talk about it in the pub, and don’t realize that by doing so they have already exposed it to the public. Their problem is the extent to which they dare tell people what they are doing. They think that a patent will give them protection, even if the idea has been put into the public domain, and defending a patent is very expensive. What they should do is think like an entrepreneur, by keeping quiet, building a product, and once it is built patent it and sell it to a large corporation.

* The second challenge was the unreasonableness of traditional copyright law: “Is it right that I should be charged $500 in Las Vegas to use 30 seconds of Ella Fitzgerald in a presentation?”

* The third challenge was the fairness of current practice – monopoly rights that are given by governments in the form of patents should be properly categorized and reasonably charged; if they are not, it will stifle inventiveness.

* We then moved into the realm of science fiction and considered the Star Trek replicator, which is fast becoming science fact, since replication costs are negligible. Why shouldn’t we generate an idea, create value, and then make it freely available? Don’t we have a moral imperative to do this? After all, multiple people possess an idea – it is rather arbitrary that the first person who patents the idea owns it. Replication is now also now a major part of the librarian’s job; because of digitization, librarians have progressed from being curators of knowledge within a specific location to providers of digital representation on a global scale. And relationships with companies like Google introduce commercial, as well as engineering, considerations.

* The final contribution to the introductory session was the differences between USA and European IP law. In the past the USA has granted patents relatively freely (as in the case of State Street Bank), whereas Europe has been tougher (as in the case of Symbian). The USA has now resiled, and the high tide has passed and is now receding, But although patents are harder to get, they are still being granted when they shouldn’t be. The issues are cost and complexity, including the expense of challenging patent rights.

What happens to innovations in fast moving tech markets?

iPhone Screenshot 1I recently met for a coffee with one of my earliest Business Information Advice clients from October 2008. I was glad to find out her business was successful, but surprised to hear that it was now quite different from the project we had discussed nearly two years before.

Her original innovation involved the use of dedicated computer terminals in shopping centres. However the rise of smartphones, in particular the Apple iPhone led to a change in plan. Now her company specialises in developing shopping related iPhone applications (apps) and they have just launched their first one for L’Oreal UK Ltd.

It is a Vichy Skin Health Consultation and helps you find the right free sample starter kit for your skin. Having perfect skin myself (bad joke) I don’t personally have use for this widget, but I can see it being popular with those who do care about their complexion.
HEALTHY SKIN AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Our mission is to give you tools, advice, access to expert and products to help you achieve healthy, beautiful looking skin.

That’s why we have launched the Vichy Skin Health Mobile Application, giving you a FREE Skin Health Consultation on your mobile. After the Consultation you’ll be able to receive a FREE sample starter kit so you can try the products before you buy.

In the app we’ve included exclusive content on our most popular products, a pharmacy locator so you’ll never be too far away from your nearest advisor and a bar code scanner to find out if a product is suitable for you. We’ve also included some special offers, promotions and competitions.

With all this at your fingertips, we hope you’ll be one step closer to achieving healthy, beautiful looking skin.

Where there’s muck there’s brass – or Binifresh

I couldn’t resist this old Yorkshire expression to introduce the latest in wheelie bin technologies.

Thanks to the latest issue of Real Business Magazine for highlighting another interesting aspect of the rubbish industry to add to my previous post back in November 2008 (Wheelie cleaning up in business).

Rather than employ expensive wheelie bin cleaners, Daniel Woolman (at the impressively young age of 27) has created Binifresh, which emits a neutralising spray into the bin every four hours.

The device has already been taken up by ASDA, John Lewis, and the gurus of household gadgets Lakeland (formerly Lakeland Plastics).

Anthony Lau and his Cyclehoop success story

Cyclehoop October 2009It was great to read about Anthony Lau in this weeks Evening Standard, with the news that Camden Council are about to install his invention.

Anthony is one of the growing number of Business & IP Centre Success Stories, although we are always looking out for more.

A Revolution in Bicycle Parking

Cycling has an important role to play in making our cities more sustainable. As more and more people take up cycling, cities struggle to provide sufficient cycle parking.

The Cyclehoop is an award-winning design that converts existing street furniture into secure bicycle parking. This innovative product won the Reinventing the Bike Shed international design competition and has been installed by local authorities across the United Kingdom.

It is a quick and cost effective solution helping local councils solve the problems of bicycle theft and the lack of on-street cycle parking.

Cycling has an important role to play in making our cities more sustainable. As more and more people take up cycling, cities struggle to provide sufficient cycle parking.

The Cyclehoop is an award-winning design that converts existing street furniture into secure bicycle parking. This innovative product won the Reinventing the Bike Shed international design competition and has been installed by local authorities across the United Kingdom.

It is a quick and cost effective solution helping local councils solve the problems of bicycle theft and the lack of on-street cycle parking.

Marks & Spencer wants your green idea

I was somewhat surprised to see a full page advert in the Evening Standard the other night offering a £100,000 prize for the best green idea.

Your Green Idea is all part of Marks and Spencer’s commitment to be the ‘world’s most sustainable major retailer by 2015’. They have already made a start with Fairtrade, organic and recycled products, and a 5p charge for plastic bags (with the money going to Groundwork charity).

I like the idea that the £100,000 for the winning idea goes to the winner’s nominated green charity, rather than into their own bank account.

Flat White is the new Black

In so many areas of business and commerce there often appears to be a closed market, with no opportunities for new products and services. However, the recent rise to prominence in London of the Flat White coffee coffee shows this is not always the case.

According to Wikipedia the Flat White originated from New Zealand and Australia, although my (Kiwi) source assures me it was the former.

A flat white is a coffee drink prepared by pouring steamed milk from the bottom of the jug over a double shot (30ml) of espresso. The stretched and textured milk is prepared by entraining air into the milk and folding the top layer into the lower layers. To achieve the “flat”, non-frothy texture the steamed milk is poured from the bottom of the jug, holding back the lighter froth on the top in order to access milk with smaller bubbles, making the drink smooth and velvety in texture.

A flat white differs from a latte in that it is served in a smaller ceramic cup, whereas a traditional latte is served in a glass with the steamed milk poured over the espresso shot. A latte can also be served in a bowl or a larger cup requiring more milk, obscuring the complex flavours of the coffee.

The beverage is now so popular in London it is claimed to have helped the Costa Coffee chain increase sales by almost ten percent. Even Starbucks have given in to the market pressure and introduced the drink to their range.

There is even a Flat White Cafe in Soho, and of course a blog charting the rise of the drink with a map showing where you can buy it in London.

However, not being an early adopter myself, I think I will stick with my wet Cappuccino for the time being.

I wonder what will be the next ‘big thing’ for London’s cafe society to get excited about.http://blend.gatewaycc.edu/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/webteam/bell2.gif

Bellows to keep my home fires burning

With all the cold weather we have been having in the UK this winter, I have become rather dependent on my wood burning stove.

The only snag is that a combination of increasing demand for logs and an excess of rain has resulted in damp and sappy wood that is very reluctant to burn.

In desperation I recently purchased a pair of bellows and have been amazed at how effective they are at getting my home fires burning

Creativity comes half a second away from death

I don’t normally stray into the area of patents and inventions, as this is covered so well by my colleague Steve van Dulken on his Patent Search Blog.

However, whilst drifting off to sleep recently, listening to John Ronson on his BBC Radio 4 show, I heard an interview with Yoshiro Nakamatsu, who claims to hold the world record for number of inventions, at over three thousand. He has a target of six thousand before he dies at the age of 144 years old.

His technique for coming up with new ideas awoke me from my slumbers. The closer he is to death, the more creative his mind gets.

“I have a special way of holding my breath and swimming underwater-that’s when I come up with my best ideas.” Interviewed by Chic Thompson for Creativity at Work.

Dr. Yoshiro Nakamatsu holds more than 3,000 patents, more than double the 1,093 held by Thomas Edison. The next closest competitor holds just 400. For the past seven straight years, Dr. Nakamatsu has won the grand prize at the International Exposition of Inventors in New York City.

Dr. Nakamatsu invented the floppy disk and licensed the technology to IBM. “Does he get a royalty on the millions of disks sold every year?” I wondered; I discovered later that he does.

Among his many inventions are the compact disc, the compact disc player, the digital watch, a unique golf putter, and a water-powered engine.
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Apparently, the key to his creativity is the lack of oxygen:

How do you “trigger” an invention?
A lack of oxygen is very important.

A lack? Isn’t that dangerous?
It’s very dangerous. I get that Flash just 0.5 sec before death. I remain under the surface until this trigger comes up and I write it down with a special waterproof plexiglas writing pad I invented.

Do you do that a lot? Putting yourself in that kind of situation to come up with a new invention?
Of course.  This is the Dr. Nakamatsu method.
From an inteview with Brainsturbator.

Somehow, I don’t think I will be reommending this technique to my clients.

Book review – From Inventor to Entrepreneur by Celia Gates

celia-gatesHaving met the Celia a couple of times in the Business & IP Centre  I am aware of the both the passion she has for turning inventions into business, as well as the tremendous challenges she has faced on her journey.

So I was fascinated to see how she would express these in her new book. As with all entrepreneurial ideas this book came about because it wasn’t there when Celia needed it. In other words there was a gap in the market which meant both an opportunity to help other people in the same situation.

I’ve met quite a few inventors since joining The British Library and I now recognise Celia’s description of the inventor’s mindset after having had a light-bulb moment.

‘One of those burning ideas that bores deep into your head, gives you a rush of excitement and keeps you awake at night. You simply can’t stop thinking about it and the more your do, the better it gets. You know you’re on to a ‘winner’ but, the question is:

What on earth are you supposed to do with this idea next.

 

It’s with this question in mind that I have written this book. It’s the book I wanted to read when I first had my idea. I searched for it, but it didn’t exist – now I hope to put the knowledge and experience I have gained to use by helping you. The advice and guidance offered herein is cheap at the price. It has cost me at least £94,000 in expensive mistakes to acquire. The intention is to save the you the same peril but, you must be warned in advance; this book is not for the feint hearted.’

http://images.nitrosell.com/store_images/4/791//customcontent/0/Alessi%20Logo.jpgCelia is more of a creative designer than traditional inventor so I was fascinated to see that one of her earliest influences was a visit to the Alessi factory in Milan. As a fan of their products for nearly thirty years I can relate to this inspiration.

Almost everyone I meet has had a light-bulb moment at some point in their life (many have claimed to have been the first to come up with the idea of wheels on suitcases). However, the key is what they do next. According to Celia, out of 33,000 ideas, only 3,000 ever get written down, out of those only 300 are developed further, 3 of those are filed for official ownership (e.g. a Patent application), and only 1 idea goes on to become a reality in the market place.

For Celia the idea is secondary in the route to market, the primary factor is the inventor.

‘You are totally and utterly responsible for the success of your idea. Turning and idea into reality has everything to do with you. You and the belief and action you are prepared to take in order to turn your idea into a phenomenal success.’

As Celia correctly points out, the very first thing you should do with your brilliant idea is to value it. Far too many inventors devote time and money developing and protecting their idea, only to find out it will never be commercially viable.

1. You need to work out who (and calculate how many) will benefit from your idea.

‘Avoid sweeping statements such as ‘everybody in the entire world is going to benefit’

Concentrate on who is going to benefit the most, and so who are likely to be your first customers.’

2. Find out how accessible you target market is. How are you going to get to meet them to talk about your idea and get their reaction?

3. Work out who you are going to be competing against. Many inventors say they are creating a new market with their idea, but even where this is true existing businesses with either feel threatened or, see a new opportunity and will respond.

4. Clearly identify your competitive edge. Why is you idea so much better than anything else on the market?

5. How sure are you of being the original creator of your idea? Similar ideas often occur simultaneously, so keep watching out for your idea in patent searches and trade magazines.

Celia has adapted the famous Edward De Bono Six Thinking Hats Principles into what she terms The Whether? Forecast. This is to help view the idea from a range of perspectives:

Sun – think sunny positive thoughts about your idea.
Rain – concentrate on all the negative aspects, and what could go wrong.
Snow – clean sheet thinking. Imagine the landscape is covered by snow and start again.
Blue Sky – think creatively, don’t be constrained to the known.
Environment – look around you and consider the physical environment in which your idea will function.
Whether Report – review the evidence and your research. Look for gaps in your knowledge and try to fill these. Examine past trends and historical patterns to help predict the future.

The importance of building prototypes is covered;
‘They say that a picture speaks a thousand words: in this case a prototype speaks a thousand pictures.’

Apparently James Dyson built 5,127 prototypes when developing his dual-cyclone vacuum cleaner.

The book gradually moves towards more entrepreneurial activities, such as the need to develop an elevator pitch. This is something inventors are particularly bad at in my experience. Too often they go into far much technical detail, forgetting to emphasise the benefits of their invention to the consumer.

In chapter eight Celia attacks the tricky issue of selling intellectual property. Many inventors really struggle with this concept as they don’t trust anyone else to take proper care of their ‘baby’. The chapter starts with the following:

‘How to get rich from your invention

So, let’s start by overcoming a barrier: are you an inventor or an entrepreneur? With a little luck you are an Inventive Entrepreneur and in this case you are in line to make some BIG MONEY…

… but before we proceed, how do you feel about this?

Are you in the invention game to make BIG MONEY or are you inventing because it is your hobby or because it rewards you in other ways?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing something because you enjoy doing it. The world needs more social entrepreneurs and if you are in this business solely because you believe you are capable of adding infinite value to the lives of many other through your ideas then you have my utmost respect.

Her in the UK we seemingly ‘hate the concept of making BIG MONEY and yet, if we open up and are honest with ourselves, the concept of infinite riches is what stimulates and motivates many of us every day.’

I have to take issue with Celia on this point, as in my experience most inventors are more motivated by wanting to see their invention come to life, rather than making millions of pounds from it.

The rest of the book covers how to get your product into the market place, including starting production, getting attention, testing and optimising, brands and assets and return on investment.

Celia’s own experiences (and those of many other inventors) lead to the inclusion of a lengthy chapter on what to do if someone has stolen your idea.

In summary, I would say that although this book is quite quirky in places, it sees the world through an inventor’s eyes. It strongly emphasises the point that – yes – the innovative idea is essential, but unless the inventor can morph themselves into an entrepreneur then their idea is likely to remain just that, an idea, rather than a product consumers can benefit from.

From Inventor to Entrepreneur by Celia Gates

 

  • Helping you acquire essential knowledge & skills by learning how to save time & costly mistakes.
  • How to generate innovative & original thoughts.
  • How to develop ideas as valuable assets.
  • How to secure & register official ownership.
  • How to commercialise an innovation & turn the value of you intellectual property in to riches & wealth.
  • How to stop your ideas being stolen & optimise your return on your investment.

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