IP Strategy Archives

How Innovation Works, Innovation, IP Strategy

How Much Is “Enough”? Rethinking the Value You Need to Extract From Your Invention

May 5, 2025

Many inventors dream of making it big—selling a patent for a billion dollars, striking an enormous licensing deal, or landing the next blockbuster product. But have you ever stopped to consider how much you actually need to live the life you want? In this installment of Innovation Café, I discuss a simple but profound question: if a comfortable retirement or a dream lifestyle could be achieved with a fraction of that “big win,” why risk losing it all for the possibility of a little more?

IP Law, IP Strategy, Patent

“Continuations” and US Patent Law

April 11, 2025

When crafting a patent strategy in the United States, one of the most powerful tools available to inventors and businesses is the continuation application. Continuation practice can dramatically extend the value and scope of patent protection. This post will provide an overview of U.S. patent continuation practice, discuss why many patent owners keep an “open” continuation on file, and explain the role and strategic advantages (and disadvantages) of a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) application.

IP Law, IP Strategy, Patent

Patent Strategy: Protect What You Can—and Block What You Can’t

March 21, 2025

Patents aren’t just defensive in preventing others from stealing your invention. They can also be used to prevent competitors from getting their own patents. This strategic guide helps innovators think smart: patent the aspects of your invention that you can, and for the rest, find clever ways to box out IP protection for competitors.

IP Law, IP Strategy, Patent

The Count System and Getting a Patent: Understanding the Incentives the USPTO Gives Examiners

March 13, 2025

Here’s something inventors rarely think about: patent examiners work on a point-based quota system. This article unveils the USPTO’s “count” system, which rewards examiners for taking certain actions. Find out how these incentives can influence the examination of your application and what it means for the strategy and timing of your patent filings.

Avoiding Federal Court: Handle Potential IP Infringement Carefully

February 28, 2025

If you discover someone potentially infringing your intellectual property, your first move could make all the difference. This article offers cautious advice on addressing IP conflicts without immediately demanding that the infringer stop infringing.

How Innovation Works, Innovation, IP Strategy

The High Velocity Innovation Challenge: Choosing Which Inventions to Pursue

December 28, 2024

If you have too many ideas and not enough time, you’re facing a good problem—but a problem nonetheless. This piece helps inventors figure out which projects to focus on and which to shelve. Learn strategies to evaluate your brainstorms for impact and feasibility, so you can focus your energy on the ideas most likely to succeed and make an impact without burning out.