I assume (hope?) you're making up the back story to fit the picture. I read the picture as being two disconnected statements, one that the handle design (which apparently has some kind of mechanical sealing mechanism, that may very well be novel/patentable) is patented and that the bottom side goes down, since it's non-curved (though obvious).
Benjamin, you're of course correct. You can all sell the pan lids again that you hoarded in expectation of a big price raise. It's just that I don't think a lid like this needs usage instructions. I also don't know what's being patented here: lids with built-in adjustable air/steam vents have been known to me for at least 10 or 15 years and are not novel at all. Same for transparent lids and same for lids with a special multi-diameter rim: everything on that lid is not new to me at all. And then, obviously, they managed to print the PATENTED as title for their usage instructions...
#2.1
Adrian von Bidder
(Homepage)
on
2009-06-03 21:54
In Poland invention needs to be innovative (http://definr.com/innovative) and no information about invention has to be published to get through patenting. I'm not sure but that should be on pair with European Union law.