"The Pig" Case Study

This case study outlines the development of a new football boot and delves into issues of development (selecting materials, research, testing prototyping, and manufacturing) and protecting an idea through non-disclosure agreements and registering a patent.

The Background

Craig Johnston, a Liverpool footballer from 1980 to 1988, has a reputation for being something of an ideas man. He created the TV game show "The Main Event"; he wrote The Butler software which tracks the drinks taken out of minibar fridges in hotel rooms; he invented Traxion sole, used on most football boots; he designed the Predator Adidas football boot used by David Beckham and Johnny Wilkinson.

Craig’s latest venture is the Pig®, which is available in two versions: a ‘skin’ to fit over the toe of any football boot, which allows players to give the ball greater swerve and spin, and a complete football boot. Craig hasn’t named his new design after his favourite animal: ‘Pig’ stands for Patented Interactive Grip. By choosing this name Craig has illustrated his awareness of intellectual property (IP) and the importance of protecting his innovation by getting it patented. Craig has to go about turning his idea into reality.

Read the full case study here