RE: Long term investment9 Jul 2025 19:37
HyProMag HPMS Patent Expiry
The HPMS (Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap) technology, commercialized by HyProMag, is based on patents originally developed at the University of Birmingham. Patent protection for such technology typically lasts up to 20 years from the filing date. For example, a key patent related to magnet recycling (such as US8734714B2) was filed in 2011, which means its expiry would be in 2031 if all renewals are maintained.
## What Mkango (MKA) Can Do to Extend Protection
Once a standard patent expires, it generally cannot be extended beyond the 20-year term, except for specific cases like pharmaceuticals or plant protection products, which do not apply here. However, there are strategic steps MKA can take to maintain or extend their competitive advantage:
- **File New Patents**: Protect improvements, new processes, equipment designs, or applications related to HPMS. Each new invention or technical advancement can be patented separately, creating a “patent thicket” that extends overall protection.
- **Maintain Trade Secrets**: Keep certain aspects of the process, such as operational parameters or proprietary know-how, confidential rather than disclosing them in patents.
- **Develop and Patent Ancillary Technologies**: Innovations in automation, powder handling, or integration with recycling systems can be patented and used to protect the broader process.
- **Brand and Trademark Protection**: Build strong branding and secure trademarks for the HPMS process and related products.
- **Collaborative Agreements**: Enter into exclusive licensing or joint ventures, leveraging proprietary knowledge and know-how that go beyond the original patent.
Direct extension of the original HPMS patent is not possible, but a layered intellectual property strategy can help MKA sustain its market position after the core patent expires.
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