Today in Patent History

On August 31, somewhere, someone changed the world.

Every patent in PatentBrief's index that was filed or granted on August 31st — across all years. A daily slice of invention history.

Applications that walked into the patent office

1. 2017
   How eBay Uses AI to Identify Brands in Search Queries

   eBay IncUS 11593558
   2citations
2. 2016
   How Square Prepares Digital Tabs for Customers Before They Arrive

   Square IncUS 10157378
   3citations
3. 2006
   How Apps Fetch Data in the Background While You Are Offline

   Twintech EU LLCUS 8069204
   8citations
4. 1935
   How the Board Game Monopoly Works

   Parker Brothers IncUS 2026082
   177citations

Ideas that became law

1. 1999
   How Computers Automatically Detect and Act on Data Like Phone Numbers

   Apple Computer IncUS 5946647
   297citations
2. 1920
   The Invention of Lincoln Logs

   IndividualUS 1351086
   24citations
3. 1897
   How Thomas Edison's Kinetographic Camera Captured Early Motion Pictures

   Thomas A. EdisonUS 589168