Category: Patent Strategy
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Selling Patents: The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend
When selling patents, it is tempting to think of competitors or direct infringers as the appropriate people who would be interested in your patent. But the truth is there is a much, much larger pool…
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Why patents in September are a bad thing
The USPTO issues more Office Actions in September than any other month. Why is that? USPTO Data for Pendency The chart above shows the USPTO pendency of First Actions over the last two years. Notice…
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How long does it take to get a patent?
It takes, on average, 2-4 years to get a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. But, you can change the speed based on your filing strategy. How long does it take to…
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Non-transitory storage media
If you have a patent claim with the term “non-transitory storage media” – you should find another patent attorney. The history of the “non-transitory storage media” claims. Who can you sue with a “non-transitory storage…
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Provisional Patent Applications Hurt Startups
Bad Strategies for Startup Patents The patent bar does a terrible job of serving smaller clients – and provisional patent[1] applications are a glaring example. In fact, they are taking advantage of them and causing…
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Do Startups Give Up On Their Patents?
Patent valuation[1][2] can be inferred from how much effort an applicant puts into their patent. One of the common criteria for the more sophisticated patent scoring algorithms is the number of continuation applications. Having a…
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Invention Mistakes Made at the “Idea Stage”
Patent Mistakes People Make At The Idea Stage Patents at the idea stage represent a huge risk because there just is not any data to support an investment in a patent. A patent attorney would…
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The S-Curve, Innovation, and Intellectual Property
Every technology grows on an “S-curve.” The S-curve cycle is where an idea is born, then it struggles to get product-market fit through infancy. Once it begins to get traction, there is a period of…
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I Do Not Want a Patent I Do Not Deserve
I do not want an entrepreneur to bet the farm on a patent that has no value. It is really tempting to think that you can get an enormously valuable patent. Then you can dominate…
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Using Patents as Blackmail
A case study on why you need the right inventors agreements for a startup: a former employee turns patent troll. My company finances patents for small to medium sized companies, so I often get inquires…