Blog
-
Licensing Inventions from Independent Inventors
Understanding motivations is key. I was an engineer for 13 years before switching to patent law, which was over 20 years ago. My engineering career was mostly in the manufacturing side, designing fixturing and tooling…
-
Ideas from Outsiders: Not Always a Good Bet
Many entrepreneurs attempt to start businesses by coming into an industry as an outsider. As an angel investor, I generally don’t like these kinds of entrepreneur situations – and I especially do not like independent…
-
Method Claims and Undetectability
Why these types of claims can be harmful to an inventor – and when they make a patent unenforceable. Method claims are especially difficult to detect, but they have another twist that makes them less…
-
Unintended Consequences of Business Decisions
Every decision has consequences. Some can be spectacular. My first job after college was at McDonnell Douglas, a (former) giant airplane company in St. Louis. It was at the very tail end of the Cold…
-
Lots of inventors means lots of problems.
There are many patents that have many inventors. It is not uncommon to see 4, 5, 6, or even more inventors listed on a patent. In fact, there are over 200 patents with at least…
-
Patent Value – Revenue is the only factor that matters.
(Updated 22 July 2023.) TL;DR: Realistic patent valuations are based on *context*. I can tell your patent value by how much revenue it produces. If your patent is infringed, I can calculate possible damages and…
-
Cringe-worthy: “There is nothing like it on the market”
One of my most hated phrases from entrepreneurs. I often hear from inventors and entrepreneurs who proudly state: “there is nothing like it in the market.” As if this was a badge of honor. It…
-
The Myth of an Early Filing Date for a Patent
Updated 23 Oct 2025 Early filing dates are almost always a bad thing, not a good one. Many entrepreneurs are often lulled filing patent applications – especially provisional applications – because they are told that…
-
Medical Device Patents
Regulatory risk has big effect on patent valuations. Medical devices and pharmaceutical inventions are a special case of intellectual property and are an interesting case study in the valuation of IP. They are an example…
-
Who Owns the Invention?
The first step is often ‘skipped’ by startup founders. Many startups fail to have the basic agreements in place so that the company owns its inventions. Part of this is a failure to put the…