Category: General IP Management

When you’re building something new — a product, a system, or a piece of code that could change your field — your focus is speed. You want to launch, get users, and iterate. But there’s this other piece sitting quietly in the background that can either protect your entire future or leave you exposed: your…

When you build something new, you want to protect it. A patent is how you lock that in. But here’s the tricky part—how long that lock actually lasts can change, and not always in ways you expect. Small choices in how you file your patent can quietly shorten or extend your protection. That’s where things…

When you file a patent, you’re often told you have “one invention per application.” But real inventions don’t always fit neatly into one box. Ideas grow, twist, and evolve. That’s where divisional applications come in. A divisional lets you spin off parts of your original patent into new applications—without losing your original filing date. It’s…

Getting a patent allowed quickly isn’t just about having a great invention—it’s about knowing how the system really works. And one of the smartest moves inventors and startups can make is learning how to use continuation applications to your advantage. Using Continuations to Build Momentum, Not Start Over When you think about a continuation, don’t…

When you file a patent application, you hope the examiner will see your invention the way you do — new, clever, and worth protecting. But often, that doesn’t happen. The examiner might reject your claims. Maybe they say your idea isn’t novel, or it’s too close to something already out there. Suddenly, you’re stuck at…

When you’re building something new—something that matters—it’s easy to focus on code, customers, and capital. Patents can feel like the last thing you want to deal with. But here’s the truth: if your invention is valuable enough to build, it’s valuable enough to protect. How IDS Works and Why It’s Non-Negotiable When a business invests…

When you file a patent, the law gives you a kind of “first in line” ticket. That ticket—called your priority date—protects your place in time. It says, “I was here first. I invented this.” But here’s the part most founders miss: that ticket can vanish if you break the chain. The Hidden Trap: How One…

When you file a patent, every word in your claims defines the walls around your idea. Those claims decide what’s yours—and what’s still fair game for others. But here’s something many inventors and startups miss: when you add or change claims later, those changes can quietly shrink your protection without you even realizing it. That’s…

If you’ve ever watched a competitor launch something that feels suspiciously close to your invention, you know that gut-punch feeling. You had the idea first. You built it, you filed your patent, you moved fast. But now someone else is pushing a “new” version that sits right next to yours in the market — and…

You finally got that notice you’ve been waiting for — your patent application is allowed. It feels amazing. You’ve spent months (maybe years) building something original, proving it works, and showing it’s different from everything else out there. Now, the finish line is in sight. But right before you hit “submit” on your issue fee,…