The company of Dippin Dots was officially founded in the town of New Grand Chain Illinois in 1988. Jones began the company in his parents garage. The company is now headquartered in Paducah Kentucky. In 1992 Dippin Dots acquired a patent on its ice cream and in 1996 sued its main competitor Mini Melts for infringement. In 2007 the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruled against Dippin Dots because the process of creating the ice cream was obvious rather than proprietary and ruled the patent unenforceable because Dippin Dots had sold the product commercially for over a year before applying for the patent. In mid 2014 the company purchased gourmet popcorn franchisor Doc Popcorn which had about 100 stores. On February 10 2015 the company announced the creation of co branded stores with snack manufacturer. The 1000 square foot stores will sell both Dippin Dots and Doc Popcorn products and the two brands will share the same selling counter register and employees.The company of Dippin Dots was officially founded in the town of New Grand Chain Illinois in 1988. Jones began the company in his parents garage. The company is now headquartered in Paducah Kentucky. In 1992 Dippin Dots acquired a patent on its ice cream and in 1996 sued its main competitor Mini Melts for infringement. In 2007 the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruled against Dippin Dots because the process of creating the ice cream was obvious rather than proprietary and ruled the patent unenforceable because Dippin Dots had sold the product commercially for over a year before applying for the patent. In mid 2014 the company purchased gourmet popcorn franchisor Doc Popcorn which had about 100 stores. On February 10 2015 the company announced the creation of co branded stores with snack manufacturer. The 1000 square foot stores will sell both Dippin Dots and Doc Popcorn products and the two brands will share the same selling counter register and employees.