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ARTICLE · 14 SEPTEMBER 2023

McDonald's - The Unexpected IP Educator

Marks & Clerk
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It's never a bad time to learn about innovation, as children (and adults with small appetites!) can now choose to get a free book about two incredible inventors, instead of a toy with their Happy Meals.

United KingdomIntellectual Property
Caitlin Morris
Caitlin Morris
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It's never a bad time to learn about innovation, as children (and adults with small appetites!) can now choose to get a free book about two incredible inventors, instead of a toy with their Happy Meals.

I haven't read the book myself, but it seems that the book talks about Nikola Tesla and Alan Turing. I wonder whether the books discuss the importance of patents in innovation; Nikola Tesla was named as inventor on 278 patents!

Whilst Tesla and Turing undoubtedly changed the world, it's important to remember that innovation can be found all around us and in more everyday objects. McDonald's themselves have filed several patent applications in the past, with titles including "Method and apparatus for making a sandwich", "Process for preparing frozen French fry potato segments", "Bun toaster", "Method and apparatus for cooking eggs", "Continuous method and apparatus for marinating poultry", and "Dual compartment sandwich package".

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