Blog
Category: Patent Strategy
The proper patent strategy can dramatically improve your IP protection.
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Medical Device Patents
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 of…
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Who Owns the Invention?
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 basic agreements…
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Managing the Patent Process
The patent process begins with selecting an invention and evaluating it as harshly as you possibly can. Selecting an invention for patenting is an iterative process and expect…
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Low Hanging Fruit: How Patent Searches Make Your Patent More Valuable
One easy way to spot an above-average patent is the References Cited on the front page. The references are specific pieces of prior art that the examiner considered…
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Questions for Entrepreneurs: Are You The Right Person?
Entrepreneurs and inventors have eternal optimism, which is contagious. They are animated, motivated, and have relentless energy when they are striving to their goals. They can be immensely…
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Examples of Undetectable Inventions
This past week, I looked at a couple companies and their IP. Both had an interesting but fundamental problem that made their IP worthless. We will talk about…
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Two Parts of a Patent Application: What You Give Away and What You Get In Return
Patent applications come in two parts – the specification and the claims. The specification is where you describe your invention, and the claims is the protection that you…
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How IP-Backed Loans Work
Your intellectual property is usually the hardest-fought asset you have. Intellectual property, and particularly patents, are often the most valuable intangible assets your company owns.
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The USPTO Claims it Wants to Ensure ‘Robust and Reliable’ Patents – But Its Questions Imply Another Assault on Patent Owners
Last October, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a Request for Comments on USPTO Initiatives To Ensure the Robustness and Reliability of Patent Rights. Responses…
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You – And Only You – Are Responsible for Your Patent
In 1989, Steven Byrne invented an accessory to a string trimmer – the ubiquitous ‘weed whacker’ used for landscaping. Mr. Byrne was a landscaper. He developed his invention…
Thirty minutes. Chief IP Officer on retainer — and the capital option behind it.
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