Has Polaroid's patents on their now discontinued "peel-apart" instant film expired?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Polaroid has filed numerous applications for patents on peel-apart film cartridge technology. One of them--U.S. Patent No. 6,227,729--issued in 2001 based on an application filed on August 26, 1999. That patent will be in force until August 26, 2019, assuming someone pays all of the maintenance fees on it.

As for Polaroid's older patents, the term of a patent used to be 17 years from the date of issuance (for patent applications filed on or before June 7, 1995). So basically, the Polaroid patents that issued later than November 1991 are still in force today. In a quick search I located 76 such Polaroid patents that at least mention peel-apart film, although not all of those patents were directed to the peel-apart technology itself.

Source(s):

http://patft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Pars…

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

!

Answer 2

It is hard to say.

It may be that they have licensed that technology to Fujifilm so the pros still have a source for the art directors pacifier.

If the latest "peel-apart" technology was implemented less than seven years ago, it may well be that the patents are still in force.

Source(s):

ProFotog

Answer 3

Well, polaroid has shut down film production, but Fuji film does apparently produce an instant film too

Source(s):

What I've heard