As it’s International LEGO day, we thought we’d look at some of our favourite brick-based patents and designs from the British Library’s historical intellectual property collection. What better place to start than with the patent that started it all – Danish patent no. 92,683.

The LEGO interlocking system

Danish patent no. 92,683 was filed in Denmark on the 28th of January 1958, hence today being International LEGO day.
The LEGO Group was not the first company to sell plastic building bricks, but it was the first company to add tubes to the underside of a brick. This seemingly simple addition gave the studs on top a better purchase (or as the LEGO Group describes it, a higher ‘clutch power’), allowing for bigger and more complicated builds than previously possible. It is the interlocking of the studs and tubes that this patent protects, as can be seen in this image taken from the patent specification.

Before the LEGO brick - Kiddicraft

The LEGO Group moved from wooden toys to plastic ones in 1947. Reports of how it happened vary, but the LEGO Group got hold of some plastic bricks from a UK company called Kiddicraft. These bricks were not protected by any patents in Denmark, and so with very minor adjustments they were copied and released by the LEGO Group as 'Automatic Binding Bricks' in 1949 – giving the toy an English name in honour of the end of World War II.

The below images are from two Kiddicraft brick patent specifications from the 1940s (GB 587,206 and GB 633,055). The slits on the side of the latter brick were for doors and windows, and the same slits can be seen on the LEGO Group’s 'Automatic Binding Bricks'.

In the late 1950s, the LEGO Group is said to have contacted Kiddicraft to ask whether they objected to the LEGO brick – they report that they did not. In 1981, the LEGO Group purchased the rights to the Kiddicraft bricks and trade marks (perhaps to shore up their history ahead of a copyright lawsuit they would soon instigate against a rival toy company).

LEGO roofs / slopes

Those of us who played with LEGO bricks as children (and possibly still do as adults) will have likely built a house at some point. The sloping roof bricks were patented by the LEGO Group in 1959 and is a very early example of a specialised LEGO brick. Today sloping bricks are a common LEGO component, used to represent a myriad of things, from a car bonnet to a control panel on the Millennium Falcon.

The illustrations from the US version of the patent specification (US 3,034,254) show their initial roof focused application well.

Duplo

In 1969 LEGO released the toddler focused Duplo bricks, which are twice the size of their LEGO equivalent, making them easier to handle and less likely to be swallowed. The 2:1 scale, alongside the inclusion of hollow studs on top of the bricks, means Duplo and LEGO bricks are (mostly) compatible – as the patent specification (DK 120,627) illustration from 1971 shows.

The LEGO minifigure

Surprisingly, given the fact that early LEGO sets were mostly houses and vehicles, no LEGO figures were available until the mid-1970s.

The LEGO Group’s first attempt was the LEGO building figures, released in 1974. A whole family (mother, father, boy, girl and grandmother) were available, and their torsos, arms, and legs were built from LEGO bricks. Their heads were a large round custom piece, complete with hair and printed facial features.

In 1975 came a figure more in scale with the sets being produced (being 4 bricks high). Looking very close to the now iconic LEGO minifigure, albeit without movable arms and legs, and no printing on the face. We particularly love the inclusion of the hats in the original registered design (MR 1975 00216).

Fast forward only a few years to 1978, and LEGO would release the now iconic minifigure proper in set 600, featuring a policeman and a patrol car. The new movable arms and legs provided far more play options and was an immediate hit. The design of the minifigure was registered throughout the world, but we’ve chosen the US design patent due to the rather nice use of shading (US DES. 253,711).

The way the legs and feet of the minifigure connected with other LEGO bricks was also patented (US 4,205,482).

LEGO horse

Next up is one of our favourite Lego bricks: the horse. Introduced in 1984, it was the first animal figure the LEGO Group created, and it remained unchanged until 2012 (when the Lord of the Rings sets added posable legs).

The illustrations from the US design patent (US DES. 281,519) are very nostalgic.

Bonus – original DUPLO figure

Ending on the wonderfully designed original DUPLO figure that was released in 1977. It would be replaced by a now more familiar DUPLO figure in 1983, but the simple finger puppet style original is our favourite. Particularly this moustachioed gentleman (US DES. 248,173).

After the New Year's festivities and burst of resolutions die down, January can be a tough month. With colder weather and shorter days, it can be a difficult time to stay motivated and enthusiastic about your business plans and goals. To help give you a boost and keep the January blues away, we've put together some of the best business advice we've heard from our BIPC businesses and supporters across the country.

If you're feeling inspired after reading all of our best business advice, get your business moving this January with our free in-person Kickstart Your Business programme starting next week. Find out more and sign up here.

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Look after yourself 

Running a business is a challenging endeavour, especially in the beginning, and new business owners have a lot to learn. My advice would be to visit your local BIPC for business support instead of struggling to work things out for yourself. This, in turn, will reduce your stress levels and give you breathing space. When things feel too much it's important to take some time out to think and do something that excites you. Spend time with good friends and loved ones. That experience will boost your mood and confidence.   

- Nevo Burrell, Founder of Nevo Concept and BIPC Local Waltham Forest Business Ambassador

Take risks

Our business advice would be to take risks, not worry too much, and never be afraid to ask questions – Melvin and Matthew, Founders of PlayPress Toys

Always think of your customers first

Our best business advice is to stay customer-focused and continuously innovate. Understand the needs and challenges of your customers, and strive to create solutions that not only meet but exceed their expectations. Additionally, building a strong network of partners and advisors, like those available through the BIPC, can provide crucial support and insights that drive your business forward. - Anthony Lau, Founder of Cyclehoop

It's okay to fail

The best piece of business advice I’ve been given is that it’s ok to fail. You have to fail to be successful. In fact, we need to fail more. - David Burroughs, Founder of Buddies for All and BIPC Local Lewisham Business Ambassador

Surround yourself with uplifting people

The best business advice I’ve ever received has been to surround yourself with people who lift you higher. It can be a lonely journey but business is all about relationships and creating value for other humans. - Denise Nurse, Chief Success Officer of DBN Enterprises and host of the BIPC's Inspiring Entrepreneurs event with Sara Davies (watch online here)

Find your niche

Our best piece of business advice is to find your niche. This has really helped us to focus our attentions on who our target customers are, ensuring that we play to our strengths. - Jennifer and Fiona, Founders of Amaze Associates and BIPC Local Lewisham Business Ambassadors

Be true to yourself 

Our best piece of business advice is to be true to yourself and not fear failure, as you can always try again. - Patty and Ali, Founders of Sweet Paper Creations and BIPC Local Waltham Forest Business Ambassadors

Celebrate every small win

Celebrate every small win. When you’re motivated your creativity improves and it’s easier to develop new solutions for business-related problems or invent new products. The connection between physical and mental health is stronger than I thought. It’s important to exercise both mind and body to fully use all your skills on your business. Female entrepreneurs can often face a wider range of challenges: in my case I’ve started my pre-menopause at 42. This brings short periods of depression and lack of sleep, some mornings I don’t want to even get out of bed. It’s difficult, but exercise helps a lot. - Judy Chicangana, Founder of Delmora and BIPC Local Bromley business ambassador 

Alongside these words of wisdom, don't forget that our network of BIPCs is here to help you this year - wherever you are in your business journey, and wherever you are in the country. Find your local BIPC here.

As 2025 rolls in, a whole host of new material and content has entered the public domain and can be now be remade or adapted by anyone without worrying about copyright infringement. Jeremy O'Hare, the British Library's Research and Business Development Manager, has put together this blog to explain how public domain works and which exciting new works are now available to use for free.

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The Great New Year Copyright Giveaway!

Every new year, on the stroke of midnight, hundreds of works of literature, art and recordings magically transform themselves into a gift for everyone to use. This gift is called ‘public domain’. 

It’s not widely known that copyright on every creative work will eventually expire. This means, in effect, that anybody can reprint, reproduce, adapt and recreate famous (and sometimes not so famous) works for their own use after a certain amount of time has passed. 

What is copyright and how does it expire? 

Copyright is a type of intellectual property. If you’re an author, musician, software creator, artist, photographer or illustrator, video/film maker or even podcaster, the content you create is automatically yours to own, use and commercialise. It is your copyright, on one condition -- that it is original work that you created. You should also be able to prove you created it when you did, so you can demonstrate that you created the work first (especially if someone were to copy or adapt it).  

The question is how long can someone claim ownership over their work? The answer (in UK copyright law) is the lifetime of the author or creator +70 years from the end of the calendar year of their death. Alternatively, if there is no designated creator and the work is produced by, say, a corporate entity, it is seventy years from the date of first release.  

Either way, potentially a long time and often long enough for a descendant or other owner/publisher to maintain control over the right of usage, even after the death of the original creator. 

As every new year rolls over, the +70 years copyright period will expire for more works. This can be a big moment for fans of famous works previously protected by copyright, as they can now be freely recreated or adapted into something new.  

Want to find out more about copyright and how it might apply to your business? Sign up for our monthly introduction to copyright webinar. You can also find regular webinar introductions to Intellectual Property here.

Some recent famous names 

For UK readers, did you know that the works of notable authors such as James Joyce, George Orwell and Virginia Woolf that were published during their lifetimes are now free to reuse and adapt? 

Works of art and illustration by artists such as Max Beckmann and the much-loved illustrator of the Wind in the Willows Arthur Rackham are also able to be used. 

Films in the public domain include some classic works in the history of film, such as Fritz Lang’s Metropolis or many of Charlie Chaplin’s earliest films. Other works that maybe of interest for reusing are old British Pathé News or Movietone reels, especially if you’re wishing to reuse original historical news and documentary archives.  

Likewise, early radio broadcasts from the 1930s and 1940s are also now public domain, as are broadcasts from the 1950s, 60s and early 70s. In fact, broadcasts have a much shorter copyright life of just 50 years. However, this does not apply to recorded music or other underlying copyrighted work, such as an original script for radio. 

Some creative reuses 

As new digital formats reach larger as well as niche audiences, there has never been a better time to reimagine an older work.  

What kinds of re-creations and adaptations are possible for public domain works? This is a potential boon for publishers who may want to republish new editions of older works, such as a new collected series of novels or stories. It’s also fantastic for consumers of e-books, as classic works can be reproduced in multiple formats which lowers the price for these works considerably and means some are now even available for free.  

TV, film or theatre producers can also freely use a literary work to remake or adapt it. This is nothing new when we think of the multiple film versions of titles like Dracula, Sherlock Holmes or the great TV adaptations of Jane Austen’s novels.  

These old stories can spin out new versions with different storylines using the famous characters. We only need to think of the many different versions and stories that Arthur Conan Doyle’s character Sherlock Holmes has inspired. 

Indeed, where would an entertainment company like Disney be today if it hadn’t adapted classic works, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Pinocchio, or more recently Beauty and the Beast or the Little Mermaid?  

Public domain works are there for the taking, and Disney’s adaptations of these much older stories has led to huge commercial success. 

There are no limits to creative reimagining when it comes to public domain work! One of the more surprising adaptions is the reworking of George Orwell’s Animal Farm into a mobile phone game.  

Territorial rights 

One important aside before you dive into using your favourite public domain work - do be aware the length of copyright can vary between countries. Intellectual property rights are territorial by country so you will have some variances in length depending on the country’s own copyright laws. For example, some works may be out of copyright in the US but not yet in the UK. 

A summary of the various time spans by country can be found here. Don’t forget to watch out for format too. There may be differences in copyright length depending on whether the content is print, recorded sound, visual or music. 

What’s free for 2025 in the UK? 

Drum roll please. Here are my favourite copyright freebies for the UK this year… 

There are two major artists, one photographer, and one author.  

Up first is Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo. Her visually stunning and painfully personal works have gained a worldwide reputation in their own right. Therefore, it is indeed timely that a new generation are now able to reimagine, remake and even expand Kahlo’s vision into new creations. 

Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940) - Frida Kahlo

Another famous name in early modern art is Henri Matisse, whose work is also copyright free for 2025. Matisse was a painter, printmaker and sculptor, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern art. His work is readily identifiable by its bold colours and expressive brushwork. I predict a Matisse revival this year as reprints and remakes of all kinds are made and sold. 

Image: Kevin Snow

Images from one of the most famous names in photojournalism, Robert Capa, are also now copyright free. Capa’s work captured some of the most significant conflicts of the twentieth century. His work documenting the Spanish Civil War, Second World War and his work for Magnum Photos will live on as iconic images of the 20th Century for centuries to come.  

Lastly, the work of British author J.B Priestley, who was a novelist, playwright and essayist, best known for his play An Inspector Calls, enters the public domain this year. His essays and novels may well become widely read again, and it won’t surprise me to see his plays back on stage, perhaps in new and different forms. 

Of course, these are just some of the most famous names. If you’re looking for new public domain material, have a look for anyone who died in 1954 who is still well-known today (or perhaps should be better known) and if they created anything of enduring interest. There’ll be a very good chance their work is copyright free to use in the UK.  

So for 2025, happy hunting for treasures, known and hidden, with this year’s great copyright giveaway! 

- Written by Jeremy O’Hare. 

Don't forget to sign up for our monthly introduction to copyright webinar. You can also find regular webinar introductions to Intellectual Property here.