As we approach the end of the summer, I find myself dreaming of past trips to sunnier climates. One in particular comes to mind – a trip to Southeast Asia following the classic backpacker route. As I think of the turquoise waters and pad Thai, I'm reflecting on the role that intellectual property (IP) plays in these adventures.
Packing like a pro
The first essential for any backpacking trip is a bag that suits your needs. After much research, I decided on an Osprey Fairview 70. Osprey has built its reputation on quality outdoor gear, and they protect that reputation through registered trade marks like UK00003971574. Trade marks are the legal shields that prevent other companies from copying brand names and logos – when trusting a backpack to carry my belongings for months, I want to be sure I'm buying the real thing.
The modern traveller's toolkit
Even in a world where you can get recommendations from a quick search, a guidebook is still one of my favourite items to pack. Facts and figures (like the time of the next bus) are not protected by copyright, but original literary works and any illustrations are. Original guidebooks are automatically protected by copyright from the moment they're written until 70 years after the author's death.
When I’m all packed, it's time to weigh my bag to make sure it's within airline limits. Innovation makes this easier than ever, with inventions such as one that turns ordinary bathroom scales into accurate luggage weighers at home. One example is patent GB2627751A, a luggage weighing apparatus. Patents give the inventor exclusive rights to their innovations for up to 20 years.
Aviation innovation
When it's time to board my flight, IP plays a starring role in keeping me safe. Each area of aviation is packed with patent protection, from safety to sustainability. Patent GB2549192A covers an autonomous cleaning system which includes a robotic cleaner that cleans a portion of the interior chamber, may have a debris collector and agitator, such as a vacuum cleaner, a dispenser for dispensing fluid onto the floor and an ultraviolet light to irradiate a portion of the chamber during the cleaning cycle. Boeing protects systems and methods for cleaning aircraft interiors, helping maintain the hygiene standards that keep millions of passengers healthy.
After the flight, my first thought as I disembark is to hope that my backpack has made it to the same country as me. Something that reassures me is packing a tracker like an Apple AirTag. This means that as soon as I land, I can feel at ease seeing that my bag has made it across the world with me. Apple have many patents: one example covering elements of the wirelessly locatable tag technology is EP3979410A1.
Sweet dreams are made of IP
Like most backpackers, I often stay in hostels due to the low-cost and ease of meeting new people. Apps like Hostel World, help me to find quality accommodation that ticks these boxes. They keep their app’s branding protected with trade marks such as UK00914091649. When staying in a hostel and sharing a room with strangers, keeping my valuables safe is a priority. Patents like GB2496705A for an inflatable pillow with a storage compartment allow me to sleep safe and sound knowing my valuable are hidden safely.
Local flavours, global protection
As I head out for my first evening, IP becomes the secret ingredient in my dining experience. Restaurant recipes and cocktail formulations could be protected as trade secrets – valuable information that gives businesses competitive advantages through confidentiality rather than public disclosure. Meanwhile, the branding on the alcohol that goes into those tropical cocktails can be registered trade marks, helping me to identify ingredients that I know and trust.
Language barriers can challenge any traveller when ordering, but modern translation technology lends a helping hand. Technology covered by patents could include the sophisticated algorithms powering translation sites, or inventions such as GB2512578A - a device the size of a credit card for providing translations from one language into another.
Postcards, patents and precious moments
My time in Southeast Asia might include snorkelling trips, exploring temples or full moon parties on the beach. Whatever adventures unfold, I want to capture every memory! Modern cameras have a rich background of patented innovations that have formed the way they are today, as we wrote about in our recent blog on the history of cameras. Plus, the original photos I take are automatically protected by copyright from the moment I take the picture.
When the trip draws to a close and home beckons, there's often a last-minute scramble for souvenirs. Postcards, magnets and more can all benefit from registered design protection like this colourful London postcard 6438496, helping creators protect the visual features of their product from being copied.
As I reflect on my adventures, it's remarkable how intellectual property weaves through every aspect of modern travel. From the trade mark on my backpack to the patent protecting my luggage tracker, IP has been with me every step.
If this journey through the world of IP has inspired your wanderlust for knowledge, subscribe to our blog for more explorations of how IP shapes the world around us.
2 comments
Comment by Clive Bonny posted on
Check if where you stay is protected too. The famous 300 year old Tottington Manor in Sussex discovered a school adopting their name. Hotel and Restaurant names are now being widely cloned. After featuring in the recent TV series Four In A Bed Tottington Manor has now applied to register their famous brand before others follow suit. To the Manor born!
Comment by Uthpal Kishore Das posted on
Let IP be with me at my every step.