In the world of modern Olympic sports, the use of patented technologies has helped athletes to reach greater heights than ever before. However, this progress often comes with a challenge: balancing improved performance with maintaining fair competition.
Patents play a pivotal role in this dynamic, protecting the intellectual property rights of inventors while also setting the stage for debates about their role in sports.
Embracing innovation in archery
A prime example of a sport that has fully embraced innovation is archery. Growing up, hearing stories about Robin Hood or being a fan of Lord of the Rings, someone new to the sport would assume that archery only involve three simple things: a bow, an arrow, and a target. However, modern recurve bows are far from simple. These bows are constructed using carbon fibre, equipped with adjustable sights, and use stabilisers (that come in the form of long rods, short rods and dampers) for balance and reducing vibration.
Other not so familiar accessories include:
- clickers – which check the draw length[1];
- finger tabs – to protect an archer’s fingers from the pressure of the string[2];
- arm guards – to protect forearms; and
- finger slings – worn on the hand so that the archer does not have to grip the handle.[3]
The patentability of such technologies has enabled their continual innovation and advancements in the sport, providing athletes with tools to reduce uncontrollable variables. However, it is apparent that now, these components have become essential, and you will rarely see athletes at the pinnacle of the sport without them.
Embracing innovation in cycling
Look Cycle, a French company, revolutionized cycling with their original clipless pedal system, the Look PP65, which was patented back in the 1980s. This innovation was a game-changer, making it easier for riders to clip in and out with a simple twist of the ankle. If you’re not a cyclist, you’ll know about these cleats when you’ve heard weekend cyclists tottering into cafes and making odd clicking noises as they walk.
While the original patent will have expired, Look Cycle holds numerous recent patents for their advanced pedal technologies. These patents cover a range of innovations in their clipless pedal systems, including various models like the Keo Classic, Keo 2 Max, and Keo Blade, which feature different materials, designs, and mechanisms to enhance performance. For example, the Keo Blade series uses a carbon leaf spring instead of a traditional wound steel spring, providing better aerodynamics and weight reduction.
There are also various patents covering other cycling equipment such as hydraulic brakes, electronic gear shifting, and we can’t forget power meters either. This technology is no longer available to only elite athletes, it's readily available to weekend warriors too.
Other Olympic sports which have embraced patented technologies include:
Technological doping
The integration of technology in sports is not without controversy. In 2009, World Aquatics (previously FINA), the international governing body for swimming, banned high-tech swimsuits that provided excessive buoyancy and reduced drag. This decision followed the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where 23 out of 25 world records and 98% of all swim medals were won by athletes wearing the LZR Racer suit[6].
It is worth noting that some development of the LZR Racer suit was completed in New Zealand, AJ Park’s home country. The University of Otago’s swimming flume conducted around 400 hours of flume testing to measure drag and ‘iron out the wrinkles’.[7]
The ban highlighted the fine line between technological advancement and what many considered to be ‘technological doping’, raising questions about the integrity of the sport when patented technology offers an overwhelming advantage.
The 2021 ruling against US sprinter Blake Leeper’s prostheses, which prevented him from competing against able-bodied athletes, further illustrates the complex issues surrounding technological enhancements in sports.[8] Prosthetic technology has advanced significantly, providing enhanced functionality and performance for athletes with disabilities. However, the decision has further reinforced the need for clear guidelines to steer new development in technology.
The future of innovation in sports
Patents will continue to shape the future of sports equipment and technology. As such it is apparent that they are essential in providing protection to incentivise innovation. Therefore, for those interested in this topic and have their own innovations in sports technology, it’s crucial to understand the patent landscape and we encourage you to get in touch with us here at AJ Park.
For further information or advice, please contact one of our experts.
[1] https://patents.google.com/patent/US3443558A/en
[2] https://patents.google.com/patent/US2834018A/en
[3] https://www.worldarchery.sport/sport/equipment/recurve
[4] https://patents.google.com/patent/US1718305A/en
[5] https://patents.google.com/patent/US2579312A/en
[6] https://patents.google.com/patent/US20080141430A1/en
[7] https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/other-sport/swimming-dunedin-scientist-standing-space-age-speedos
[8] https://worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/world-athletics-panel-decision-application-from-blake-leeper
