Patents and Creativity

Today in the Knowledge Management Global Network course "Knowledge Creation and Innovation," led by Christophe Lecante, we explored the fascinating intersection between patents and creativity.

My key takeaways:

1. There’s a delicate balance between protecting innovation and enabling it. Patents can encourage investment and safeguard ideas - but excessive protection may block collaboration and limit creative flow. Navigating this tension thoughtfully is essential for fostering sustainable innovation.

2. To overcome mental blocks when using patents as creative tools, we need more than just inspiration — we need structure. Tools like TRIZ, C-K methodology, bissociation, and patent landscaping help teams look beyond dominant thought patterns, draw insights from unexpected fields, and reframe problems through fresh lenses.

When approached strategically, patents aren’t a barrier to creativity — they’re a playground of ideas waiting to be reimagined.

Innovation isn’t always about inventing from nothing — sometimes, it’s about connecting what’s already there in ways no one has thought of yet.