‘Hamdog’ owner to auction IP rights

The creator of a combination of a hotdog and burger in one bun, which is protected by a design patent, has revealed plans to auction his intellectual property rights.

Australian Mark Murray began selling the ‘Hamdog’ across Australia but has not yet marketed it in the US, WIPR reported last week.

Now, Murray has decided to auction the US design patent for the hybrid bun, number D584478 S1, which was filed in 2006.

In the listing, Murray will transfer the US design patent, the US trademark ‘Hamdog’ and associated IP rights.

This excludes any Australian IP rights, namely an Australian design registration, number 321736, which was approved in 2008.

According to news.com.au, the extraordinary amount of interest in the ‘Hamdog’ is why Murray is auctioning the US design patent tomorrow, September 29.

“He sees America as the ideal market and says he’s already had inquiries from fast food outlets wanting to purchase his idea,” said the site.

The hybrid has had worldwide attention and was even the subject of a rant by US TV host Jimmy Kimmel.

Last year, Murray  appeared on “Shark Tank”, an Australian version of “Dragons’ Den”, where he unsuccessfully pitched the idea.