4/24/2005

IP Protection Mistakes Startups Make

1. TOO LATE TO START FILING US AND INTERNATIONAL PATENTAPPLICATIONS.
2. TOO NARROW LEGAL SCOPE OF CLAIMING PATENTABLE INVENTIONS.
3. INTERNALLY MISMANAGED PATENT INFRINGEMENT "WILFULNESS" EXPOSURE.
4. RELYING SOLELY ON COPYRIGHTS FOR SOFTWARE PROTECTION.
5. INADVERTANTLY TAINTING I.P.R. WITH 3RD-PARTY CO-OWNERSHIP RIGHTS.
6. IGNORING THE IMPACT OF NEW "FESTO" U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING RE PATENT AMENDMENTS.
7. UNDERESTIMATING THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADE SECRETS AND CONFIDENTIALITY.
8. OVERLOOKING LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITY TO SET-UP OFFSHORE LICENSING TAX SHELTERS.
9. RESPONDING SLOWLY TO U.S.P.T.O. OFFICE ACTIONS.
10. OVER/UNDER-SPENDING ON LEGAL FEES TO PROSECUTE PATENT APPLICATIONS.

Read more in this article by Dennis Fernandez found via this post from EEJD Blog.