America has always been a land of innovation. More than 13, years ago, Clovis people created what many people called "the first invention in America", which was mainly used to hunt large prey. This spirit of American creativity lasted for thousands of years. Through the first American patent in 1641, until today, the first African-American with a patent invented the "dry cleaning". These three patents described the early United States. This prolific inventor helped us to tell the "real McCaughey". The four black women's horrible inventors in the "slave auction" re-conceived the technology of family < P >, however, the history was basically the same. Although American patent law uses color-blind language to promote innovation, the patent system has never recognized these inventors.
as a law professor and a licensed patent lawyer, I understand both the importance of protecting inventions and the negative effects of not using laws to protect inventions. Although patents were basically out of reach in the early history of the United States, slaves and free African-Americans did invent and innovate why patents were important in many countries in the world. Innovation was cultivated through the patent system. Patents enable inventors to monopolize their inventions for a limited time and allow them to make money through sales and licensing if they want. Patent Office Relief Herbert Hoover Building (Neutral)
The patent system has long been the core of American innovation policy. As a way to recover costs, patents provide strong incentives for inventors, who can spend millions of dollars and a lot of time developing an invention.
The history of patents in the United States is older than the Constitution of the United States. A few years before the Constitution was enacted, several colonies granted patents. However, in 1787, the members of the Constitutional Assembly opened the patent procedure to the people of the whole country by drafting the so-called constitutional patent and copyright clauses. It allows Congress to:
"promote the progress of science and useful arts, and guarantee the exclusive rights of authors and inventors to their respective works and discoveries for a limited time."
This language gives inventors exclusive rights to their inventions. It laid the foundation for today's nationwide federal patent system, which no longer allows the state to grant patents. Although the language itself is race-neutral, like many rights stipulated in the Constitution, the patent system does not apply to blacks born in slavery. Slaves were not regarded as American citizens, and the laws at that time prevented them from applying for or holding property, including patents. In 1857, the United States Patent Office ruled that slave inventions could not be patented. In the 17th and 18th centuries, slave owners < P > used the invention of slaves to make the American economy grow rapidly. In this era, black inventors are the main contributors-although most people don't get any benefits related to their inventions because they can't get patent protection.
Slave owners are often praised for their slave inventions. In a well-documented case, a black inventor named Ned invented an effective and innovative cotton scraper. His slave owner Oscar Stewart tried to apply for a patent for this invention. Because Stewart was not the real inventor, and because the real inventor was a slave, the application was rejected. < P > Stewart finally started selling cotton scrapers without patent protection, and made a lot of money for it. In his advertisement, he publicly declared that this product was "the invention of a black slave", so he lied for the call to abolish black slaves, and slavery dwarfed black people's thoughts. When did a free black man invent something? Benefit from one's own inventions
The answer to this question is that blacks-whether they are free or enslaved-invented many things at that time. This Boyd bedstead (Dialogue)
One of such innovators is Henry Boyd, who was born into a slave family in Kentucky in 182. After gaining his freedom in 1826, Boyd invented a rope bed with wooden railings connecting the headboard and pedals.
Boyd's bedstead is very popular. Historian Carter G. Wooderson described his success in his iconic book The Wrong Education of Blacks. "I noticed that Boyd's company finally hired 25 white and black employees."
Although Boyd recently bought his freedom and should be allowed to apply for a patent for his invention, the racist reality at that time obviously convinced him that he would not be able to apply for a patent for his invention. He finally decided to cooperate with a white craftsman and let his partner apply for and obtain a patent for this bed.
Some black inventors have achieved economic success, but there is no direct or indirect patent protection. Benjamin Montgomery was born in a slave country in 1819. In the 195s, he invented a propeller for steam boats designed for shallow waters. This invention is of special value, because during this time, steam boats transported food and other necessities through shallow waterways connecting residential areas. If the ship gets stuck, life-sustaining supplies will be delayed for days or weeks.
Montgomery tried to apply for a patent. Because of his slave status, his application was rejected. Montgomery's owners tried to win credibility for the invention of the propeller and applied for a patent themselves, but the patent office also rejected their application because they were not real inventors.
Even without patent protection, Montgomery accumulated a lot of wealth and became one of the richest planters in Mississippi after civil litigation. The war is over. In the end, his son Isaiah bought more than 8 acres of land and found the town of Mountbayou in Mississippi after his father died. It is the legacy of the black innovator "KDSP", and the patent system is ostensibly open to free blacks. From Thomas Jennings, the first black patent holder who invented dry cleaning in 1821, to Norbert Lillier, a free man who invented revolutionary sugar-making technology in the 184s, and to Elijah McCaughey, who won 57 patents in his life, those who have the right to use the patent system invented something that still affects people's lives.
this legacy continues into the 21st century. Lonnie Johnson created more than $1 billion in sales with his invention of "super water gun", which has been one of the 2 best-selling toys in the world since 1991. Johnson now holds more than 8 patents and has developed different green technologies since then.
Bishop Curry V, a 1-year-old black inventor from Texas, has applied for a patent for his invention, which he says will prevent children from accidentally dying in hot cars.
Black women are also carrying forward the traditional black inventors. Lisa Ascolese, known as the "inventor", obtained many patents and established the Association of Women Inventors and Entrepreneurs. Janet Emerson Ba Sen became the first black woman to obtain a patent for software invention in 26. Dr Hadia Green recently received a grant of $1 million. This invention may help to treat cancer.
faithful to America's innovative heritage, today's black inventors are following in the footsteps of their ancestors. Now, the patent law does not actively exclude them from protecting their own inventions, but is completely conducive to the progress of the United States. We apologize for the mistake. ] this ar