Building a sustainable legacy with LEGO: IP, Innovation, and Circular Design 2025-01-08
The LEGO group is a Danish toy company, which was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen. He was a carpenter who initially started with the production of wooden toys for children, but introduced in 1947 the now famous plastic bricks.
Beyond being a symbol of imagination, LEGO is a pioneer in intellectual property (IP) strategy, evolving with time to blend creativity, sustainability, and strategic protection.
LEGO’s iconic interlocking brick system was originally protected by patents, enabling the company to build its legacy. While the patents for these innovative features have expired, LEGO’s IP strategy has continued to evolve, adapting to the needs of a more sustainable and circular economy.
A particularly interesting development in LEGO’s IP strategy is how its design rights have adapted to meet the challenges of the modern world. In recent years, LEGO has incorporated sustainability into its design philosophy. This includes using recyclable materials and designing bricks that can be reused, reducing waste and contributing to a circular economy. Notably, LEGO’s legal victories in the EU Courts — upholding its design rights — have underscored the importance of protecting modular designs. LEGO’s bricks, while functional, are also celebrated for their durability and ability to be repurposed, an important aspect of sustainability. The modular system exception in design law ensures that LEGO’s iconic bricks are protected as long as they serve the purpose of enabling the connection of interchangeable pieces — a hallmark of the circular lifecycle approach.
The LEGO brand — from its name and logo to its mini-figures — remains fiercely protected by trademarks, ensuring that the brand is recognized and trusted worldwide. This protection not only secures its authenticity but also emphasizes LEGO’s commitment to quality and sustainability.
Hopefully you got some legos as a present or you already have them at home. But beyond playing with them, also consider how IP strategies like these are helping shape a sustainable future, where products are designed to last, be reused, and recycled for generations to come.
If you want to challenge yourself about understanding LEGOs IP Strategies, the IP Business Academy prepared this case: .org/did-they-really-patent-this-use-case-example-the-lego-eco-system
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Beyond being a symbol of imagination, LEGO is a pioneer in intellectual property (IP) strategy, evolving with time to blend creativity, sustainability, and strategic protection.
LEGO’s iconic interlocking brick system was originally protected by patents, enabling the company to build its legacy. While the patents for these innovative features have expired, LEGO’s IP strategy has continued to evolve, adapting to the needs of a more sustainable and circular economy.
A particularly interesting development in LEGO’s IP strategy is how its design rights have adapted to meet the challenges of the modern world. In recent years, LEGO has incorporated sustainability into its design philosophy. This includes using recyclable materials and designing bricks that can be reused, reducing waste and contributing to a circular economy. Notably, LEGO’s legal victories in the EU Courts — upholding its design rights — have underscored the importance of protecting modular designs. LEGO’s bricks, while functional, are also celebrated for their durability and ability to be repurposed, an important aspect of sustainability. The modular system exception in design law ensures that LEGO’s iconic bricks are protected as long as they serve the purpose of enabling the connection of interchangeable pieces — a hallmark of the circular lifecycle approach.
The LEGO brand — from its name and logo to its mini-figures — remains fiercely protected by trademarks, ensuring that the brand is recognized and trusted worldwide. This protection not only secures its authenticity but also emphasizes LEGO’s commitment to quality and sustainability.
Hopefully you got some legos as a present or you already have them at home. But beyond playing with them, also consider how IP strategies like these are helping shape a sustainable future, where products are designed to last, be reused, and recycled for generations to come.
If you want to challenge yourself about understanding LEGOs IP Strategies, the IP Business Academy prepared this case: .org/did-they-really-patent-this-use-case-example-the-lego-eco-system