Half a Century of Innovation: The Evolution of Patent Work

In 2025, Advokatbyrån Gulliksson and Ström & Gulliksson celebrate 50 years of expertise. With a focus on innovation, intellectual property and business law, we have supported entrepreneurs and companies since 1975. This text was authored by Emil Tostrup, European Patent Attorney at Ström & Gulliksson with a background in computer science, powered by artificial intelligence.

Part I: The Foundation of Innovation (1975–1995)

I wasn’t alive in 1975 (in fact, I wouldn’t even exist until 1995), but I’ve heard plenty of stories about what patent work looked like back then. It’s safe to say things were… a bit different. Offices were filled with the rhythmic click-clack of typewriters, and correcting a typo wasn’t as simple as hitting backspace—it could mean retyping an entire page. Filing cabinets weren’t just office furniture; they were the core of the operation, filled to bursting with folders that represented years of human ingenuity. 

Then came the big shake-up: the computer. By the late 1980s and early 90s, personal computers started making their way into patent firms. Suddenly, word processors replaced typewriters, and revising drafts became a whole lot easier (though probably not without the occasional muttered swear word when the computer crashed). Patent drawings, which were once hand-drawn works of art, shifted to being created with computer-aided design (CAD) software—more precise but maybe less authentic.

The Internet, though—that was the real gamechanger. Instead of spending hours assessing dusty books to research prior art, you could suddenly access online databases filled with patent documents from around the world. Collaboration became faster, and working with an international team started to feel almost as easy as working with the person at the next desk.

Still, those early days laid the groundwork for everything that would follow. Even without today’s fancy tech, the goal was the same: protect innovation and help brilliant ideas come to life.

Part II: Today’s Digital Renaissance (2025)

Fast-forward to today, and wow, have things changed. The tools we have now would probably look like science fiction to someone back in the 70s. Generative AI can draft complex technical descriptions faster than I can write this text. Cloud-based platforms mean I don’t even need to be in the same time zone as my colleagues to work on the same project. And let’s not forget how oral proceedings and hearings have gone virtual—thanks to the pandemic forcing everyone to embrace video calls, we’ve all gotten used to the joys (and occasional frustrations) of remote meetings.

The real shift, though, isn’t just the tools; it’s how we work. Automation has taken over a lot of the repetitive tasks that used to eat up hours of time. AI can review documents, flag inconsistencies, and even suggest insights I might have missed. That leaves me and my colleagues free to focus on the big stuff—strategy, creativity, and solving tricky problems.

Of course, all this fancy tech isn’t without its challenges. AI is amazing, but it’s far from perfect, and making sure it doesn’t mess up is a job in itself. And while technology can make things faster and more efficient, it’ll never replace the human side of this work. Building relationships with clients and making judgment calls are things no algorithm can do—at least not yet.

Today, the patent firm is a mix of old-school expertise and cutting-edge tech. It’s a pretty exciting time to be part of this world.

Part III: A Glimpse into the Future (2075)

I can’t help but wonder what the next 50 years will look like. Will we still be utilizing keyboards and screens? Probably not. Maybe by 2075, we’ll have neural interfaces that enable us to draft patent applications simply by thinking about them. Current mouse and keyboard inputs are considerably slow regardless of your typing speed; therefore, eliminating this interface between the user’s hands and the computer could significantly increase productivity. Imagine turning an idea into a fully filed patent application in minutes—talk about efficiency.

Oral proceedings might happen in virtual reality courtrooms, where we’ll all be represented by holograms (hopefully ones that make us look a little more impressive than we do in real life). AI could act as impartial advisors in hearings, giving data-driven recommendations while we humans focus on the persuasion and strategy side of things.

Even the way firms operate might evolve. Maybe we’ll move to subscription-based services or predictive analytics that help clients figure out the next big thing before it happens. The possibilities are endless, and while it all sounds exciting, it’s also a little intimidating.

One thing I do strongly believe is that no matter how advanced the technology gets, there will always be a need for the human touch. Machines can handle the technical stuff, but the heart of this work—advocating for creativity, making tough calls, and protecting people’s ideas—will always need humans.

Part IV: Looking Back and Moving Forward

As we celebrate 50 years, I’m amazed at how much human creativity has achieved. From the days of typewriters and filing cabinets to today’s AI and cloud technologies, our journey has been one of constant adaptation, all while staying focused on our core mission: helping innovators bring their ideas to life.

It’s truly thrilling to be part of this journey, and I’m excited to see what the next 50 years will bring. Here’s to continuing our legacy of innovation, creativity, and turning the impossible into reality.

Advokatbyrån Gulliksson and Ström & Gulliksson – Celebrating 50 Years of Expertise
Take a glimpse into highlights from our journey—from our founding in 1975 to today!