[Post prompted by a comment on this blog]
Many people believe Dippin’ Dots has a monopoly the cryogenically frozen “popcorn” ice cream. However, the Dippin’ Dots patent was invalidated by the USPTO in 2007, in part because Dippin’ Dots founders had made sales of a similar beaded ice cream product to over 800 customers more than a year before submitting its patent application, which sales were not disclosed to the PTO – thus the prior art was obvious. (read the court’s ruling here 
)
Today, there are two main competitors of Dippin’ Dots – MiniMelts and MolliCoolz .
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Ryan is an attorney and valuation specialist residing in Chicago. He chronicles his thoughts and research on FranchisePundit.com. You may reach him by email ryanknoll@gmail.com or mobile telephone 312-715-8115.
I’m not fan of vending, but the the vending machine of the minidot ice cream may be ok in an indoor mall.
i lllllllllllooooooooovvvvvvveeeeeeee dippin dotz ice cream!!!! i wish i had some right now!!!! i cant wait to go home and stop the cream man and take ALL of his ice cream, then go to the store and buy some more and eat it all before i get home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i am HUNGRY…FEED ME…
Hold on. The patent was invalidated because the _FOUNDERS_ had produced “dippin dots” before submitting a patent application?
That’s insane. They were the Founders of the product. It was the art, not prior art.