Category: General IP Management

Great drawings can make or break your patent. The rules are strict. The details matter. And the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) do not ask for the same things. If you ship one set of drawings to both, you risk delays, extra fees, or worse—rejections you could…

Here’s the truth: your patent drawing can make or break your filing. Examiners rely on drawings to see what words can’t show fast enough. Clean lines, the right views, and the right labels help your idea land. Sloppy work causes delays, rejections, and extra cost. The good news is that the rules are clear. If…

When you’re building something new, the last thing you want is paperwork slowing you down. But if you’re filing a patent, there’s one part you can’t afford to ignore: the Information Disclosure Statement—or IDS. It sounds boring. It’s not. It’s where you show the patent office that you’ve been honest about what’s already out there.…

Let’s start with IDS Cycle Time. This one’s easy to overlook, but it matters more than most founders realize. IDS stands for “Information Disclosure Statement.” It’s basically a list of any prior art—other inventions, papers, or patents—that might be related to yours. The USPTO requires you to submit it, and you’re legally responsible for getting…

Let’s be real. Patent work moves fast. But even one misstep between a paralegal and an attorney can slow everything down. Something small—like a missing date or an unclear comment—can mean hours of back-and-forth, redos, and stress. And that’s time you don’t have when you’re building something big. Why Handoffs Break (And How to Spot…

In the fast-moving world of startups and deep tech, patent deadlines don’t wait—and neither does your competition. But one small step in the process can quietly make or break your entire filing: the 1.97(e) certification. It’s a short statement, but it carries big legal weight. Miss it, and you could risk losing the very protection…

If you’re building something new, something that actually matters, you don’t want to get tripped up by paperwork. But here’s the thing—when you file patents across countries, you can get tripped up. Badly. Especially when it comes to disclosure. Why the IDS Matters More Than You Think Filing a patent isn’t just about claiming your…

You’ve worked hard, pushed your invention through the patent process, and finally—good news—the examiner says your application is allowed. You can almost taste the issued patent. Relief sets in. But then, out of nowhere, a curveball: new prior art surfaces. Or maybe your own team realizes something important wasn’t cited earlier. Or perhaps a competitor’s…

When you’re building something new, protecting it isn’t optional. It’s a must. Especially when you’re dealing with patent filings and invention disclosures. One of the most overlooked (and risky) parts? The IDS workflow. That’s where confidential data—your code, your tech stack, your secret sauce—can easily slip through the cracks. Why IDS Matters More Than You…

When you’re building something big, the last thing you want is to chase paperwork. You don’t want to email five vendors just to track one patent. You don’t want to log into one tool to search, another to docket, and a third to deal with billing. It’s slow. It’s messy. And worst of all, it…