A Patent Tale as Old as Time: Rolex’s Dynapulse and the Mechanical Watch Industry’s IP Shift

Rolex protects its new movement system with 16 patents patents. Rolex also submitted seven patent applications for the Dynapulse escapement alone. Rolex’s Dynapulse patents represent an aggressive IP strategy in an industry where the 200-year-old Swiss lever movement system has long been universal. Does Rolex’s approach protect innovation or create worrying barriers for independent players in the watch industry?