Patents and IP Archives - The 411 On Startups (tm)

5 ‘IP’ Mistakes Start-ups Should Avoid

May

2012

Venture capitalists, angel investors and start-up lawyers these days tend to be obsessed with “intellectual property,” or IP. And for good reason: In the information economy, the core assets of a new venture are likely to be talented people, the IP they create, and little else. To maximize future value, founders should try to lay ...

IP Law For Startups — Lessons on trade secret, trademark, copyright & patent law for entrepreneurs

Feb

2010

IP Law for Startups is a blog that gives general, educational information about intellectual property law and explains the most common pitfalls and missteps that entrepreneurs make. It gives clear, concrete ways to protect your IP and avoid legal ruin. It helps startups draw an IP landmine map and navigate the dangerous terrain. The biggest ...

Cost of Obtaining a Patent | IPWatchdog.com

Sep

2008

This page contains detailed information on the cost of obtaining a patent in the United States. For additional, background information about the costs associated with obtaining a patent please see some of our other pages, including these: * Patent Attorney Fees Explained * New US Patent Office Fees

Patenting Technologies – A Cost-Benefit Analysis | Startup-CEO.com (Eli Portnoy)

Sep

2008

Every start-up idea that I have listened to, at some point touts patenting the technology as a defensible measure against competition. At the same time, every investor who has any experience in the world of web technologies says that patents are basically useless and businesses should have other competitive advantages.

LinkedIn: Answers: Patent process for a tech-startup. What? How? How much?

Sep

2008

My startup is finishing the development of a unique technology that conducts analytics of human preferences on the Web. We are now at a point where we are looking to file for a patent to protect the technology, but none of us are experts on the subject. Perhaps the best way to explain it is ...

Ask The VC: Should Startups Invest In Patents?

Sep

2008

One of the issues that we debate internally is regarding the value of patents. We’ve written a lot about the subject over the years and those of you who are regular readers know that Brad hates all software patents, and I’m fairly close to that line as well. Last night, our friend Rob Shurtleff sent ...

Google Patents — Search Patents

Sep

2008

Google’s online patent search engine is sometimes a good alternative to the USPTO’s — a little easier too!

What Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Intellectual Property | Saper Law Offices

Sep

2008

Intellectual property is an umbrella term for various types of rights an individual or business can have in their names, creative works, and inventions. A firm grasp of intellectual property is important for every entrepreneur – even if you’re not a musician or inventor. An understanding of intellectual property rights can help you protect your ...

Online Provisional Patent Application FAQ

Aug

2008

A provisional patent application (PPA) is an effective, fast, and cheap way to safeguard your place in line at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) while you decide whether to file a regular patent application. A PPA preserves your invention rights for up to one year — without the toil and expense involved ...

United States Patent and Trademark Office

Aug

2008

The site for all things formal in patent and trademark applications. Search for patents with multiple criteria.