BizJournals Portfolio
Home >   Business Views, Opinions and Blogs >   Business Blogs >   Tech Observer >  

Patent Stars Asking For Help

Tech Observer

by Kevin Maney
Main
Daily Brew   "I Dream of Bangalore"

Recent Blog Posts

Links

Jun 04 2007 12:00am EDT

Patent Stars: Asking For Help

About 18 months ago, I wrote a column for USA Today about my search for the top 10 living holders of U.S. patents. I've never been able to find a way to get in touch with two of them, and I was wondering if any readers have suggestions.

One is Shunpei Yamazaki, president of Semiconductor Energy Laboratory in Japan. He's the all-time king of U.S. patents. The problem here is that SEL has no U.S. presence, and when I call SEL in Japan, my requests go into a black hole.

The other is George Spector, formerly of New York. He apparently ran a patent-assistance business out of the Woolworth Building. People who had crazy ideas, like a motorized pot-washing tool, would get Spector to help them turn it into a patent, and Spector would add his name to it. So he racked up 723 patents. But his last one is dated 1998, and he no longer seems to live or work in New York.

If you know how I can get in touch with either of these folks, let me know.

. □

Comments

If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.


Connect With Portfolio.com
Like Portfolio on Facebook

Come on, like us—you know you want to.

Follow Portfolio on Twitter

Follow us and if you're an innovative entrepreneur, we'll return the favor.

The Mix

Today's top stories, conversation starters, and the back nine business bites.

spotlight on

Slideshows

500 Startups Hits New York

Dave McClure's brainchild makes its way to New York and introduces East Coast money folks to some intriguing new companies. View Slideshow