Category: General IP Management

When you build software or AI, you’re not just coding—you’re creating a system that solves a problem in a specific, often novel way. That logic, that structure, that result—it’s valuable. And it’s worth protecting. But here’s where things get tricky: in a patent, the part that actually gives you protection isn’t the description or diagrams—it’s…

If you’re building something in MedTech or BioTech, you already know the drill—research never ends, data pours in from everywhere, and the paperwork feels heavier than the science. But here’s the tricky part: when it’s time to file a patent, all that non-patent literature (NPL)—papers, journals, clinical studies, technical posters—can turn into a legal landmine…

If you’re building something with a unique look—a product with a clean shape, a fresh interface, or a design that just feels better than what’s out there—a design patent might be exactly what you need to protect it. What Is an IDS and Why Should You Care? Before we go deep into how design patents…

Speed is everything when you’re building something new. But when you’re also filing patents, speed without clarity can be dangerous. Especially when it comes to something called IDS risk—a quiet threat that can turn even your strongest invention into a liability. The Real Cost of Missing IDS Data When you’re building fast and filing patents…

If you’ve ever looked at a patent reference and thought, “What on earth is this jumble of letters and numbers?” you’re not alone. Patent documents are messy. Each country has its own system. Some use different languages. Others use different document codes. Even the dates are all over the place. For startup founders, engineers, or…

Let’s be real—filing an Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) through Patent Center shouldn’t feel like solving a Rubik’s Cube in the dark. But for most founders and engineers, it does. You’ve got prior art to disclose. You’re just trying to be compliant. And somehow, just uploading a simple IDS turns into a time-sucking mess of formatting…

You can build the smartest tech in the world, but if you ever need to prove you followed the rules, your word won’t cut it. Regulators, partners, and even investors want clear proof—not just that you did something, but that you did it right and on time. That’s where audit trails and attestations come in.…

You’re building something big, something new—and you want to protect it. So, like any smart founder, you start with a patent search. You look around the landscape to see what’s already out there. Who’s filed what. Where you stand. But here’s where things go sideways for a lot of startups: they stop there. They think…

Most founders are shocked when they find out how much a simple patent filing can end up costing—especially when the hidden fees start piling up. One of the worst offenders? The Information Disclosure Statement, or IDS. It sounds harmless, but if you’re not careful, it can quietly rack up hundreds or even thousands of dollars…

If you’re building something valuable—especially something technical—there’s a good chance it’s worth protecting. Filing a patent is one way to do that. But if you’ve ever looked into how patents work, you’ve probably stumbled across the MPEP. It sounds like legal soup. We get it. What Is MPEP 609—and Why Should You Care? If you’re…