Patents That Matter

Protecting innovation takes more than filing a patent. Ultimately, without proper planning and guidance, a patent is simply a piece of paper.

Our in-house inventor is an attorney, having invented over 250 issued patents. Each patent follows a similar lifecycle:

• Identifying a problem (although sometimes you identify a unique solution first and identify the problem later);
• Developing an idea that would solve the problem;
• Turning the idea into an invention (going from concept to at least MVP);
• Determining whether the invention is best protected by a patent or as a trade secret;
• At this point, most inventors skip right to disclosure to patent counsel, but properly done this is when the invention is dimensionalized, adding new use cases and additional value;
• Disclosure to patent counsel;
• Drafting of patent application;
• Filing of patent application;
• Patent prosecution (can take many years);
• Patent issuance (preferably with a continuation claim filed before issuance);
• Monetization
  • Use in business;
  • Licensing;
  • Sale;
  • Defensive use;
  • Patent backed financing;
  • Improving VC eligibility;
  • Litigation
• Patent expiration

Just as each invention has a story, so too does each patent come with important lessons on how to manage ideas throughout their lifecycle.

A key point is that each stage of a patent’s life can involve a different team. Think of it as an orchestra without a conductor. After the innovator gets the invention disclosed to patent counsel, often the innovator goes back to her lab, leaving management to deal with the lawyers — without a solid idea of what drove the invention. Management then fails to properly oversee the drafting of patent claims, leading to a mismatch between business needs and IP protection. The monetization team is then handed the patent without understanding why it was invented or how the claims were crafted.

Let our experienced innovation team make sure that there is continuity from conception through patent expiration (and six years beyond). We will make sure that your IP portfolio matches and supports your exit strategy.

Let us conduct you IP  protection orchestra.