Which of the following best describes what is typically protected by patents in the sports industry?

• A. Equipment, apparel designs, and styles of play
• B. Salaries of players
• C. Broadcast rights
• D. Fan demographics

Answer: (A)

Patents cover new, useful inventions and improvements, including devices, tools, and, in some cases, processes. In the sports world this most often shows up with equipment and gear innovations—things like a helmet with a novel padding system, a ball with a new material or construction, or a training device that measures performance. Apparel designs can also be protected if there’s a novel functional feature or an ornamental design that qualifies for a design patent. The other options describe things that aren’t inventions: salaries are compensation, broadcast rights are licensing agreements, and fan demographics are data. Styles of play are generally not patentable because they are abstract strategies unless tied to a concrete, new, and non-obvious method or device. So the choice that reflects protection for equipment and related innovations best captures what patents typically cover in sports.