Did You Know?
The inventor of the bestselling Super Soaker was a Black man—and Hasbro tried to cheat him out of his royalties.
In 2013, Lonnie Johnson, a nuclear engineer and former NASA scientist, won a $73 million settlement from Hasbro for underpaid royalties. Johnson holds over 80 patents.
The inventor of the bestselling Super Soaker was a Black man—and Hasbro tried to cheat him out of his royalties.
In 2013, Lonnie Johnson, a nuclear engineer and former NASA scientist, won a $73 million settlement from Hasbro for underpaid royalties. Johnson holds over 80 patents.
Comments
And I mean RUINED it.
-Big Cam
Who hasn't played with a Super Soaker on a hot day, in the pool or on the river?
Good piece of history to learn. Thank you for sharing.
(gotta explain that one. I, and my dad, have a rule for/with my nieces and nephew. if we're wearing shorts and outside, we're fair game.) (it's all fun and games until grandma gets the garden hose.)
Thank you for sharing this!
I'm so glad he won the settlement though!!
Bastards
Another company to boycott¡!
Did not know hasbro shafted him
Pretty sure the record companies didn't want Sam Cooke signing up all that black talent in the 60s and having his own record company. His death was too suspicious and reeked of CIA plot.
And LOVED those super soakers!
Proof is that it took 10+ years and a court order to make them pay.
And on a personal note from this mom ?
Your the man, it wasn't just my kids dude that had a blast with that
Super Soaker !😅🤣😂
THEY did that to women, too. Not permitted to hold patents so their spouses, partners, fathers, brothers, and sons got the credit.
I think we know who "THEY" are. The same "THEY'S" we have doing the same tired crap today.
http://kids.readincolour.com/2016/05/on-shelves-now-whoosh-lonnie-johnsons.html
Unfortunately FOTUS wants to gut the department of education. Linda McMahon, 🍊 #47 nominee to lead the Department of Education will cut programs under Project 2025.
"Oh I’d like it to be closed immediately," said Trump, “Look, the Department of Education is a big con job"
Make America Dumb!
F=ma holds true regardless of skin color.
The 3rd law of thermodynamics knows no race.
Maybe the world needs 1 less rapper or basketball player who'll never amount to anything.
Don't understand why the same doesn't apply to awards in civil cases.
Thank you for sharing
They sent Pinkerton to a kids house cause he got a box of magic cards early.
They take turns shooting themselves in the foot over there.
I'm not surprised at what Hasbro did.
Thanks for letting us know.
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/whoosh-lonnie-johnsons-super-soaking-stream-of-inventions_don-tate_chris--barton/10808919/item/37972927/?mkwid=%7cdc&pcrid=77447028765158&pkw=&pmt=be&slid=&product=37972927&plc=&pgrid=1239149900899965&ptaid=pla-4581046492312229&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping+-+High+Vol+Backlist+-+Under+%2410&utm_term=&utm_content=%7cdc%7cpcrid%7c77447028765158%7cpkw%7c%7cpmt%7cbe%7cproduct%7c37972927%7cslid%7c%7cpgrid%7c1239149900899965%7cptaid%7cpla-4581046492312229%7c&msclkid=b300b4ae4c2b155d3edcd31b06a2f91f#idiq=37972927&edition=20533127
one of the greatest inventions ever!
I can squirt my cat on the counter from 20 feet away!!!
I am happy he won the settlement!
Thank you for feeding us bite sized digestible pieces of what we don't know that we're better for knowing. 💗
Thank you for reporting this, Christopher. I have had enormous fun over the years with Super Soakers! My late mother would love this too.
you can't cheat engineers. they are the worlds thinkers and builders.
That’s 42 years he waited to receive his due🤨! Only reason I know this is because I had a son born in 83 who just turned that age in January 😏🥳.
Good story I needed to hear! Thank you.