Patenting for Inventors Ep. 153 - Lights, Camera, Patent! 10 Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Patent Holders

Illustration by @max_gps

Lights, Camera, Patent! 10 Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Patent Holders

Podcast Transcript:

Hello and welcome to the Patenting for Inventors podcast. My name is Adam Diament, a registered patent attorney and partner at the law firm of Nolan Heimann in Los Angeles, California. This episode is, “Lights, Camera, Patent! 10 Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Patent Holders.”

Celebrity Inventorship Misconceptions

I know that when I tell you that these celebrities have a patent, you’re probably thinking, “Did they really invent this, or is it more like ghostwriting a book, where someone else writes the book, but the celebrity just gives the approval and puts their name on it—even though they didn’t actually write it.” That’s not the case with patents. You can’t legally ghostwrite yourself as an inventor.

A person or company can’t come along and invent something, and say, “Hey, Taylor Swift, can we just pay you $10,000,000 so we can list you as an inventor, so our product will do really well?” They could try to do that, but if someone is listed as an inventor who isn’t actually an inventor, it can invalidate the whole patent, so it’s a really risky thing to do and illegal. An inventor has to sign a declaration of inventorship that they are legally one of the inventors when the application is filed. If you’re caught lying, you risk being fined and face up to five years in jail, so I don’t think there are a lot of fake declarations because I don’t know how many people would risk five years in jail to be listed as a fake inventor of a patent. It’s possible, but I don’t think that’s what happened for most of these celebrity inventions.

At the same time, it’s not as if the celebrity is out there in their garage on the weekends making prototypes of their invention—but that’s not what’s required to be considered a legal inventor for patent purposes. I had a whole episode on who counts as an inventor in Episode 84 of the podcast, called “Will the Real Inventor Please Stand Up.” You can hear me rap the title of the podcast in the style of Eminem and learn about who counts as an inventor.

Without going into all the details of inventorship, some people assume you have to know all the complex details or build a prototype to be considered an inventor, but that’s not true. In layman’s terms, an inventor is simply anyone who contributes creatively to at least one key aspect of the invention. You don’t need every engineering detail worked out—you just need to bring an original idea or solution to the table.

So let’s go into our celebrity inventors!

Michael Jackson – Anti-Gravity Illusion Shoes

First up, we have Michael Jackson. Jackson patented the anti-gravity illusion shoes in 1993, receiving U.S. Patent No. 5,255,452. These specialized shoes included a hidden slot in the heels that locked onto pegs embedded in the stage floor. This design allowed Jackson and his dancers to lean forward dramatically during live performances, as seen in the Smooth Criminal music video. Before this invention, such effects could have required wires or camera tricks.

Jamie Lee Curtis – Diaper with Wipe Pocket

Next, we have Jamie Lee Curtis. She patented a diaper with a moisture-proof pocket designed specifically for holding wipes. It’s U.S. Patent No. 4,753,647, issued in 1988. Traditional diaper changes often involved juggling multiple items, leading to inconvenience and messes. Curtis’s invention streamlined diaper changing, allowing caregivers quick and easy access to wipes without fumbling for separate containers.

Eddie Van Halen – Guitar Support Device

Next, we have Eddie Van Halen, the legendary guitarist. He patented a guitar support device, U.S. Patent No. 4,656,917, granted in 1987. Traditional guitar positioning often limited the player’s ability to move freely while maintaining precise fingerwork. Van Halen’s support device stabilized the guitar’s position against the musician’s body, allowing more freedom of movement and enabling intricate playing techniques.

Prince – Keytar Design

Next, we have music legend Prince. He patented a portable electronic keyboard instrument, known as the “keytar,” in 1994. It’s a design patent, so it covers the look of the instrument—Design Patent D349,127. Traditional keyboards restricted mobility on stage, limiting performance dynamics. Prince’s sleek, ergonomic design allowed musicians to move freely, bringing greater expressiveness and visual appeal to performances. The keytar became iconic, symbolizing musical innovation and freedom. You can see lots of videos of prince playing his keytar which kind of looks like a hybrid electronic keyboard and guitar, which is why it’s called a keytar.

Hedy Lamarr – Frequency-Hopping Technology

Next, we have Hedy Lamarr, famous actress from 1930s through 1950s. She patented frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology in 1942, U.S. Patent No. 2,292,387. During World War II, secure military communication was critical. Her invention allowed radio signals to jump frequencies unpredictably, making them harder to intercept or jam. Her invention laid the groundwork for modern technologies like Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. I actually did a whole podcast about her for Women’s History Month in 2021—Episode 119. So if you want to learn more about her and her invention, listen to that episode.

Charlie Sheen – Chapstick Dispenser

Next is actor Charlie Sheen patented a unique ChapStick dispensing apparatus in 2001, U.S. Patent No. 6,283,658. Sheen’s invention was a simplified compact, clean, and user-friendly solution that dispensed precise amounts of lip balm without direct contact. This device improved hygiene and usability, particularly appealing to individuals concerned about cleanliness and convenience.

Bill Nye – Ballet Pointe Shoe

Next is Bill Nye, known as “Bill Nye The Science Guy,” patented something that you probably would not have expected. You might have thought he patented something really high tech, but he actually patented a specialized ballet pointe shoe in 2001, U.S. Patent No. 6,895,694. Nye’s invention introduced a reinforced rigid toe box and an extended shank, improving foot support and alignment. These enhancements reduced the risk of common ballet injuries, such as sprains and fractures.

 Marlon Brando – Drumhead Tensioning Device

 Next we have legendary actor Marlon Brando, famous for roles like Vito Corleone in The Godfather.  Many people don’t know that he had a passion for drumming. He patented a device for tensioning drumheads, receiving U.S. Patent No. 6,812,392 in 2004. Brando recognized that uneven tension across drumheads affected sound quality and tuning stability. His invention provided a reliable mechanism to uniformly tension the drumhead, ensuring consistent tone and performance.

Julie Newmar – Shaping Pantyhose

Next is Julie Newmar, the original Catwoman from the Batman TV show, patented pantyhose designed to shape the female figure, U.S. Patent No. 3,914,799, in 1975. The patent has a pretty funny title, it’s “Pantyhose with shaping band for cheeky derriere relief”. Traditional pantyhose often lacked supportive shaping, making them uncomfortable or visually unappealing. Newmar’s pantyhose offered strategically placed shaping panels to enhance the wearer’s silhouette comfortably. Her invention, combined style, comfort, and functionality.

Harry Connick Jr. – Digital Sheet Music System

Last, we have musician and actor Harry Connick Jr. holds patent U.S. Patent No. 6,348,648 for a digital sheet music synchronization system. Performing musicians traditionally relied on printed music, risking misalignment during live performances. His invention addressed this issue by digitally synchronizing sheet music across multiple screens, which ensured seamless coordination among ensemble members. The system provided real-time updates and tempo adjustments, enhancing performance quality and reducing errors. 

Other Celebrity Inventors

So that’s just ten celebrities who have patented inventions. There are a lot more that I didn’t go into, but just to list a few others who have patents: Abraham Lincoln, Penn Jillette, James Cameron, Mark Twain, Zeppo Marx, Steve McQueen, Harry Houdini, Neil Young, and Christie Brinkley. Look them up for more information about their inventions.

I hope you enjoyed the episode. If you need assistance with patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property matters, contact me at 424-281-0162.