One of my all-time favorite reference books is Thomas Rieder’s How to Say What Stuff Looks Like. The book is a compendium of descriptive terminology, and is presented in a handy format that includes illustrations adjacent descriptive terms. I find myself using this book frequently when drafting patent applications — I have yet to find “stuff” that this book didn’t help in saying what it looks like.

And the title….could there be a better one for a compendium of descriptive terminology?

Buy the book here.

I’ve been wrestling with a gas heater for the last two weeks. I still haven’t gotten the thing to work right, but at least I was able to snap this picture.

When talking with people interested in building an intellectual property portfolio, I like to give specific examples of successful intellectual property strategies. I have a collection of my favorite examples, and I’ve been using most of them for years. Occasionally, though, I’ll change my examples when a better one catches my eye.

This week I came across a better example for successful brand-building. I met some old friends for lunch a few days back, and we started reminiscing. Our talk turned to music, and we eventually (and enthusiastically, I must admit) discussed KISS. Remember them, the ultimate power-glam rock band? Where are they now, you ask…in used record stores and revolving through rehab clinics? Oh no.

I came home from my lunch, logged onto iTunes, bought a greatest hits collection, and fired up the iPod. The band’s music is still great. While listening, I visited the official KISS website for kicks. After just a few clicks, I knew I had a better example.

KISS screams brand-building. Indeed, the brand appears stronger than ever. Check out the band’s web store. Shirts, hats, jewelry, books, home decor, etc. Oh, and for the ultimate KISS fan who plans for the future, a casket (The Kiss Kasket) (I’m not kidding).

And, yes, the KISS ARMY is still a going concern.

Whether you’re a fan or not, you have to appreciate the powerful brand that the band has built. The KISS logo looks exactly the same as it did decades ago. I’d know those sharp s’s anywhere. Four letters and a logo — so simple. It brings immediate imagery to mind. Elegant and powerful. KISS should be commended.

Another reason this makes a great example of powerful brand building — KISS, in other circles, stands for Keep It Simple, Stupid.

While visiting my favorite local bar & grill the other night, I noticed the following IP-related tidbit on the placemat menu (its a high-class joint):

The word “uncopyrightable” is the only 15-letter word in the English language that doesn’t contain a duplication of letters.

Fascinating. I had to share…

I’ve noticed that engineers and scientists are very prolific inventors, but are not so prolific writers of invention disclosures. Have you ever heard “we invented that a few years ago…”, followed by silence when asked about the invention disclosure? People are usually suprised when they learn the difference between inventions and invention disclosures.

I’ve had a radical thought recently. Its not their fault. Its ours. The legal folks should do everything in their power to remove barriers within an organization that effectively censor the inventors. The administrative process associated with filing a disclosure can be intimidating, and may be the thing that is limiting the documentation of inventions.

Here’s an outline of a system that just might help the process:

First, arm your inventors with Tablet PC’s. The functionality of these computers is amazing. Engineers like to draw and illustrate. The tablet form factor allows them to do that, and gives them the power to document an invention immediately (I bet most “inventions” don’t happen at the desk, but rather in the lab, at a lunch table, or in a meeting).

Second, set up a wireless network that permeates your facility.

Third, design an invention disclosure form that allows the inventor to describe the invention in the manner they prefer — sketching, writing, or both. The form should allow for quick completion of the administrative details on the Tablet PC (e.g., do you ask the inventor to complete a “Department” field? If so, make it a drop-down list, not a text field to be filled in). Lastly, the form should include a button that sends the form via e-mail to a designated inbox (I’m thinking “inventions@yourcompany.com”). The patent group can review the inbox regularly, and feed the disclosures into its internal processing system.

The tablet, wireless network, and form, together, allow the inventor to complete his burden associated with documenting an invention immediately. This system is simple and, I’m sure, fun to use. I’m willing to bet it would produce an increase in the number of disclosures.

Most importantly, the technology is available today:

Toshiba Portege Tablet PC (I love this machine)
Linksys Wireless G Access Point
Adobe Acrobat Professional (use for creating forms)

Creating Adobe Acrobat Forms by Ted Padova (a wonderful resource on Acrobat forms)

I have just recently finished The Art of Innovation by Tom Kelley. The book is a case study of innovation at IDEO, “America’s Leading Design Firm.”

I found the book very interesting as a case study. IDEO seems like a fascinating place where creativity thrives. The author gives numerous descriptions of various IDEO principles, and the book is pepperred with beautiful pictures of IDEO-designed products (I think I could look through a portfolio of their products with fascination for hours). The book would have benefitted from more pictures.

While the book shines as a case study, don’t look for a boiled-down, take-it-and-run set of principles on how to kick-start innovation at your company. The book has a few sections with explicit take-to-work lessons on corporate innovation. My favorite is “The Perfect Brainstorm,” a chapter that includes a list of “Seven Secrets for Better Brainstorming” and “Six Ways to Kill a Brainstormer.” I think the tips in this chapter alone are worth the price of the book for anyone interested in brainstorming.

I’d recommend the book to anyone who is interested in learning about the innovation process at IDEO in particular — just don’t expect an executive summary of how to increase innovation at your company.

On a side note, Tom Peters wrote the Foreward.

Link: The Japan Patent Office has a hyperlinked list of patent offices around the world. The list appears to be updated occasionally, with China being added recently.

Link: One of my favorite reads each month is Wired magazine. Each issue includes a usually brief section called “Infoporn,” which is sort of like the USA Today graph on steroids. Infoporn always presents data on a subject interesting to technophiles, and presents it in a way that is both revealing and visually interesting.

This month’s issue includes an expanded Infoporn section that presents very interesting IP-related data, comparing countries and geographic regions on various IP-related issues. The section opens with a color-coded map of the world labelling countries as either leaning toward control of IP or toward piracy of IP. The data are not suprising, but the map format is fascinating.

Link (USPTO main page, changes frequently): The USPTO will be closed on Friday, June 11, in recognition of a National Day of Mourning for former Presdient Ronald Reagan.

Link: President George W. Bush issued a Proclamation designating Friday as the National Day of Mourning.

Link: IPO reports that the PTO fee bill, H.R. 1561, has stalled in the Senate due to opposition from some Senators relating to Section 5, which includes the anti-fee diversion provisions.