Patent Law

Spudnik

By Gary Odom and Jordan Kuhn

J.R. Simplot, French fry innovator, blew his porchlight Sunday, aged 99. Supplier of dehydrated potatoes to the U.S. military during World War II, post-war, Simplot pioneered frozen French fries. In 1967, a handshake deal with McDonald's founder Ray Kroc helped put Simplot on the path to becoming a billionaire. Simplot's company got 43 U.S. patents, including D268,539, for peculiar potato shapes.

In 1980, Simplot seeded Boise-based Micron Technology, now the only U.S.-based computer memory maker, and former co-conspirator in an international price-fixing ring. Consistent with trying to rig the playing field, Micron is currently a member of the Coalition for Patent Fairness.

Man about town, Simplot cruised Boise Idaho in his Lincoln Town Car, license plate: "MR SPUD".

Asked about his legacy in a 1992 interview, Simplot lived up to his name: "Oh hell, I don't care what they say about me. I'm not a publicity hound." Simplot, a godless heathen, made no real attempt to enrich the world by philanthropy with his spud haul. Simplot is survived by his wife Esther and son Butty.

French fries are garbage food, laden with carcinogen acrylamide. The average American eats thirty pounds of French fries annually. You are what you eat.

Full post as published by The Patent Prospector on May 26, 2008 (boomark / email).