So every industry will have patents, but as I see it, cosmetic patents are a class of their own.
Cosmetic ingredient suppliers take out patents (or apply so it is no longer "novel") on cosmetics using their products (to prevent market shrinkage if someone were to patent it after the fact).
Patents are granted usually out for specific/narrow formulations and most patents can thus be circumvented with relatively minor modifications.
Then the other day I found this patent for a baby shampoo/shower gel
https://patents.google.com/patent/EP2042216B1While reading through it I was amazed by how broad the patent actually is and perplexed of why it was granted and certain that if push came to shove, the patent wouldn't hold up in court.
Regardless of validity, it got me wondering (as the title clearly gives away) - What do you guys think, is it hindering or boosting innovation?
Edit: Spelling mistake.
Comments
I don't think patents in the cosmetic industry help innovation much. I only say that because the products we use today are pretty much no different than the ones we use 20 or even 30 years ago. This is despite the fact that tens or even hundreds of thousands of patents have been issued in the last few decades.
So, maybe they hinder innovation?
Then the issue becomes that you have to defend the patent which can be quite an undertaking unto itself. Just not worth the effort.
It's easy enough to work around most patents anyhow.
See website for details www.desertinbloomcosmeticslab.com