References cited

Invention rating checklist

How to manage the patent process, from picking the right invention to getting the patent through examination.

Investing in Patents Chapter 2 How Startups Use Patents

Chapter 1 of Investing In Patents, Making the Business Case for Patents

Introduction to "Investing in Patents"

Webinar from 9 Apr 2020.

How do you manage an IP portfolio? You need tools.

Here are two simple questions to ask:

1. Can you tell if someone infringed your patent?

2. Can someone design around your patent?

Armed with these two tools, you can manage most of your patent portfolio.

Patent examiners are widely maligned by applicants and patent attorneys, but they are actually the most underutilized resources that make sure you get good patent assets.

Examiners have an immense amount of knowledge and experience, which a good applicant can put to use - if they know how.

Patent searches can be *harmful* or helpful.

Big companies have legitimate reasons why they do not do patent searches, but these reasons are not as important to startups.

Startup companies can err by deluding themselves that "nothing is out there" when, in fact, the only thing we can tell is that we have not found the prior art - yet.

Non Disclosure Agreements and Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreements are far more important than people realize - especially for startup companies.

Some entrepreneurs worry about people "stealing" their ideas, but that fear is misplaced.

The real issue with whether your company actually owns the IP that it creates.