Nd–Fe–B permanent magnets a quarter century later: implications for patentability

Abstract

Abstract Events are described that precede the announcement of the high performance permanent magnets based on the neodymium-iron boride Nd2Fe14B. When accounts of innovations stem from the principals initiating them, they can be distorted in the interest of establishing a patent position of high commercial value. The problems of finding objective criteria to assess inventiveness in this technological breakthrough are discussed.