The patent nightmare
The Dual Cyclone™ vacuum cleaner was nearly never made due to patent and legal costs.
Unlike a songwriter who owns the song he writes, an inventor has to pay substantial fees to renew his patents each year.
During the development years when James Dyson had no income, this nearly bankrupted him. He risked everything, and fortunately the risk paid off.
Then in 1999, Hoover (based in the UK) tried to imitate a Dyson and James Dyson was forced back to court to protect his invention.
After 18 months Dyson finally won a victory against Hoover for patent infringement.
