What does an 1850s sewing machine patent have to do with the current debates about patent thickets, NPEs, costly litigation, and other modern patent policy concerns? As it turns out, quite a bit. Professor Adam Mossoff discusses his popular article, “The Rise and Fall of the First American Patent Thicket: The Sewing Machine War of the 1850s,” and the important lessons that today's patent-owners can learn from this significant event in early American patent law.
A production of the Smithsonian's Lemelson Center. Written, hosted, and audio production by Laurel Fritzsch, podcast program manager. Art Molella, executive producer. Joyce Bedi, webmaster. Adam Mossoff was originally recorded on 15 January 2013. Theme music is “Tobby’s Theme” by Brandon Belman and outro music is “Home” by Brandon Belman, both used with permission. Podcast released on 1 May 2013.
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