How to protect your IP without interrupting the bank entrepreneur

Patents can be a hidden trap for startups. Although they seem to be a one -off cost, the reality is different.

The submission is just the beginning. The only American patent can exceed $ 50,000 for their lives as legal fees, government fees, international submissions and annuity after accumulation.

No wonder the founders hesitate and question the king. The first is the first; Many of them are skeptical and uncertain if patents are worth the investment. But jumping patent may be even worse:

• First competing files lock from its own market

• The investor loses interest in your business and sees no clear IP strategy

• The legal battle hits the same way as your company gets traction

The question is therefore not where Patent, it is as Do it without excessive expenses.

The key is to know where to concentrate your budget; Believe me, that’s easier than you think. Here, my tested strategies of tested and tests You want to patented while maintaining costs under control.

Let’s dive.

Related: Protection of your critical inventions on a strict budget

Identify high -valuable innovations for catching after catching

Startups tend to make one of two costly bugs with patents: Excessive patent or underestimation. Both can hurt your business.

Underpting happens when teams can’t document innovations. Without a structured process, such as the invention to detect molds (IDFS), they slipped valuable ideas with cracks and left them unprotected. Patent applications must be submitted early, before commercialization if the financing can be tight.

Overweight is the opposite problem. Companies are wasting money to submit patents that do not actually strengthen the market position. It’s like betting on every horse Instatead that he chose the best shot to win. Intelligent innovative managers focus on patents that protect revenue and block completion most effectively.

So what is the best way to do it? Structured assessment of patentability. Matrix for evaluation of ideas can combine research and development, leadership and legal teams to assess patentability based on key factors such as the value of business values, probability of patenting, expenditure, etc. This comprehensive approach ensures only the strongest forward ideas.

Here’s my rule: If the loss of idea does not hurt your business, you patent it.

Plan your budgets for ip wisely

Patent without budget is like hiring employed in a friend if you can pay them. It’s risky and financially irresponsible. Many startups plunge into the process just to run out of funds and leave their requests or let the patents released.

Patented costs come in phases: develop fees, arguments and government fees throughout the process. Each patent can flourish into a family of patents. This budget can be thrown into the air because initial innovations surround foreign equivalent and follow -up patents. If the budget only for initial submissions, you may be forced to leave the patent in which the Alreny has invested as the cost of the balloon.

If you want to have it, determine the patent budget before filing. Create legal fees, future submissions and long -term maintenance. Discussion of budgets on end-to-end or fixed fees structures with your Attort to have surprising costs. Once your patent is in the process, use tools to estimate the cost to monitor the upcoming expenses and remain financially ready.

A well -scheduled budget keeps your patent for you, not against you.

Related: 4 ways to significantly reduce the cost of obtaining new patents and IP management

Use intelligent submission strategies to reduce unnecessary costs

Let’s be honest. Many startups are trying to reduce the cost wrong. There are rushing applications that are too wide (extending the argument phase) or too narrow (offering little protection), hiring the cheapest lawyers or skipping strategic planning. They think they are saving money, but in fact these abbreviations lead to rejection, bad strategy and patent that fails most if necessary.

A smarter way to save? A decision on strategic submission.

• Start with a provisional patent. For just $ 140 in USPTO fees, while legal fees are also lower, locked up on your date of filing, and providing 12 months to specify your invention before introducing to the full application.

• Discounts of government fees. If you qualify yourself as a small or micro-standite, you can save 50-75% for USPTO charges. I always remind my customers to check it because too much business money leaves on the table.

• Hold on foreign submissions unless there is a serious obligation to these markets. Each country can cost a $ 5,000- $ 10,000 and finally $ 25,000-75,000. Start in the US and then use the PCT system to delay international decisions for up to 30 months when the demand is hit.

Another main cost driver is excessive prosecution with all examinations. I always recommend customers to use prediction tools to avoid technological areas where it is difficult to obtain patents.

After assignment, check to explore the analytics to understand their history of approval and adjust your strategy. For example, if you have assigned a hard examination that allowed only 1-2% of applications, consider requesting an interview to improve your chances. However, if success still looks unlikely, leaving the application could save you from pouring money into a dead end.

Low -value patents to avoid unnecessary fees

I can see that too many startups were 10-20% or more of their patent budget for a patent that they haven’t served for a long time. If the patent protects key technology or does not provide a competitive advantage, why is it still true for it?

I tell my customers to check their portfolios every year. Ask yourself: Is this patent still in line with my business strategy? If this is not the case, throw it, sell or licenses to obtain costs.

If you also stop the market, stop paying patents there. Foreign submission without business presence does not serve any purpose.

It is much more efficient in a high value portfolio. Focus your budget on the patent that really matters and you will see the real value from your IP.

Regardless of which of the above approaches, one thing remains the same: you cannot make patent decisions on cost savings only about human intuition. Instead, the correct tools provide you with data drivers that control the intelligent options.

Related: 5 ways to improve your chances of getting patents

Use data, not guessing

Intelligent breathing snaping is primarily about performing the right movements and the data will help you. Correct tools can assess the likelihood of approval, predict the cost of an end-to-end, and reveal the possibilities of saving costs that you determine that patents actually monitor and maintain maintenance.

Innovative managers focus on performance not only blindly support and hope for the best tracking, analyze and modify. If you want to win, you have to do the same.