Advise Sandra whether she would succeed in her application for a patent for her shower head (case study below)
Facts
Sandra, is a promising new inventor. She is in the final stages of developing a revolutionary shower head which in addition to acting as traditional shower can also, at the press of a button located at the bottom of the shower head, turn into an exfoliation device for the entire body. When in exfoliation mode, the shower head also secretes moisturiser onto the body surface and therefore it can do the job of three separate devices: it can act as a traditional shower head; it can exfoliate; and it can moisturise.
In her excitement to show someone the efforts of her labour, Sandra allowed her next door neighbour, Stella, to use the shower head given that Stella’s own shower head was broken. Stella is the European director of Clean and Sheen’s New Products division. Clean and Sheen is a leading international manufacturer of shower heads. Sandra decided not to ask Stella to sign a confidentiality agreement given that they were next door neighbours.
The following day Sandra met with research and development representatives of four shower head manufacturers other than Clean and Sheen. Each representative signed a confidentiality agreement prior to Sandra demonstrating her shower head. The representatives were impressed with Sandra’s shower head’s ability to multi- task and all confirmed that it represented a clear advance in technology.
One of the representatives at the demonstration was Rupert, who previously had been an executive producer on satellite shopping channel, ‘Bathrooms R Us’. Rupert suggested to Sandra that he would be happy to promote her shower head on ‘Bathrooms R Us’ in order to boost demand. Sandra agreed and sent Rupert a sample shower head and an accompanying report detailing the shower head and its multitasking abilities. Sandra also gave Rupert permission to promote the shower head to the relevant trade press. Rupert’s 20 minute advertorial on ‘Bathroom’s R Us’ was well received, over 10,000 customers placed orders soon after with the shopping channel.
Another representative at the meeting with leading shower head manufacturers, Grace from Aqua Wash, was so impressed with Sandra’s shower head that on returning to Aqua Wash, she commissioned a replica of Sandra’s shower head to be built; the replica has since been mass produced and has been incorporated into all new Aqua Wash shower cubicles that went into production across Europe from last week.
Sandra has also learnt that Stella, her next door neighbour, on using Sandra’s shower head, sent an email soon after to her chief designer at Clean and Sheen, Paul, giving a detailed description of Sandra’s shower head and its ability to multi- task. Clean and Sheen has also recently launched a range of deluxe shower heads incorporating Sandra’s design.
Sandra to date has not applied for a patent for her shower head.
Sample Solution