Invention
Your Start-Up Will Stall If It Doesn’t Own Its IP
As I’ve emphasized in other writings, the single most important asset of any business is its intellectual property (“IP”). Sure, good management is very important, but executives and other managers can (and do) come and go. A start-up’s IP, like a diamond, should be forever (or at least until it’s sold or tra nsferred). Among…
Patenting an Incomplete Invention – Keep in Mind the Enablement Requirement
Sometimes it may be oversimplified to tell an inventor that his or her invention can be patented before it is complete, because this may cause the inventor to try to apply for patent too early. While an inventor is not required to fully complete his or her invention before trying to apply for patent protection,…
Homemade Inventions Deserve Patents, Too
Some people still believe that patents can only be issued for exotic and high-tech inventions. However, U.S. patent law does not require that a new device, product or process resemble something from a science fiction movie; a useful modification or improvement of an existing device may also be worthy of patent protection. A patentable device…