When should a startup consider a patent?
When the technology may be new, hard to design around, and important to market position, funding or partnerships. Assess before disclosure.
IP for startups
Protect what matters. Not everything that can be protected.
Good startup IP is about timing, ownership and choices. Patenting everything early is not necessarily good strategy.
01
Idea
02
Validate
03
Build
04
Protect strategically
05
Raise capital
06
Launch
07
Scale internationally
When might a trade secret be better?
When knowledge can stay confidential, is not easy to reverse engineer, and a patent application would disclose too much.
What will investors look for?
Clear ownership, relevant agreements, control of disclosures, a credible strategy and awareness of key risks.
Who actually owns the IP?
Clarify ownership between founders, employees, contractors, universities and partners — early.
When should you perform FTO?
Before major product, market and investment decisions, particularly while design choices can still change.
How much should an early-stage company spend?
Spend according to commercial importance, risk, maturity and funding. Start with priorities, not a maximum portfolio.
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