As we watch the world change behind our own closed doors, some are looking to be apart of that change. As already discussed in Jade Watt’s post, several Intellectual Property Law firms have already reported an increase in filings of new patents in the months in lockdown compared to the same period in previous years.

As it is frequently reported in the news, some countries are looking to implement a tracing app, antibody tests, and other ways to help ease us out of lockdown; with a highlight on the amount of personal protection equipment there is available for the NHS and the public in general.

However, in previous periods of isolation innovation hasn't always been targeted on the problem but innovating as a whole to produce new intellectual creations. The following are several notable works and the periods they were conceived:

• The Plague - Several of Shakespeare's works; King Lear, Macbeth and Anthony & Cleopatra.
• Saint Paul Hospital (1889) - Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night
• The Plague -  Newton works on the Laws of Gravity

I am not suggesting we will see the next understanding of the universe we live in explained through the medium of physics and mathematics but the scientists and innovators have had their social calendar and distractions wiped clean to focus on new intellectual creations. As I briefly mentioned above, it is likely we will see a lot of inventions targeted towards the COVID-19 crisis. I would say it is also very likely that we will see several new blockbusters of how we survived the virus.

I have no idea how large the scope the intellectual creations produced from this period could be, it will however be exciting to see. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile keeping an eye on the patent register for the forthcoming publications of the applications that were filed during this isolation lockdown.