Intellectual Property Protection

Articles in this section

23 articles

Why do entrepreneurs need to protect their technical and scientific innovations?

If you start a grocery store, you probably are not selling a technical or scientific innovation, so your goal is to exec...

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How can I protect my innovations? I’ve heard of patents, trademarks, trade secrets, etc.

To protect your innovation, you can apply for a US patent. Its owner can stop anyone else (an “infringer”) from making ,...

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I don’t have the resources to sue someone who is infringing. Why bother patenting my invention?

Don’t worry. You, the entrepreneur, likely won’t sue anyone for infringing your patents. Instead, you are building a war...

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How do I get a patent? Can I prepare a patent myself? I can write a good technical description.

My opinion: The person on TV says: “don’t try this at home.” Sorry, but it takes 3-5 years after law school for me to “t...

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What experience should I look for in a good patent attorney or patent agent?

This is a terribly difficult question, particularly for someone new to the patent world. I’ve been hiring patent attorne...

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What if I told someone about my innovation? Is it too late to protect it?

“Loose lips sink ships.” My general advice is to keep your innovation secret (e.g., within your company) until you file ...

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What are the legal requirements to get a patent?

There are a lot of requirements, but the two biggest ones are: Novelty : Nobody else in the history of humankind has inv...

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How do I find out if someone else invented my concept first? Is there a way to search for my concept?

Unlike writing a patent, you can, and should, search for your concept yourself!! When searching, I tell entrepreneurs to...

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Someone told me not to search patents because it can get me in trouble. Is that true?

Before the mid-2000s, there was some risk, but that risk is greatly diminished now. Don’t worry about searching. You nee...

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Is software patentable?

I like to say, “software is not not patentable.” No, that’s not a typo. When someone makes that assertion, they are high...

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Even if I can legally get a patent, are there reasons to not get a patent?

Of course! First and foremost, does the patent help advance your business goals? You need to get a return on your invest...

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What is a Provisional Patent Application?

Sometimes an inventor is not ready to make the commitment to a full patent application. For example, the invention may n...

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What is the difference between a utility patent and a design patent?

A full-on patent application for a US utility patent covers the actual invention of a system or method to do something n...

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After I file my patent, I can sell my patented product with no worries, right?

Maybe. A patent only gives you the right to stop others from making, using or selling the patented technology. However, ...

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MIT owns some patents that I’d like to use. How can I do that?

A patent is property that can be sold (“assigned”) or rented (“licensed”). Thus, if MIT owns a valuable patent, you can ...

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What are common license terms for intellectual property?

There are two main types of licenses: Exclusive : Only the licensee obtains the specified patent rights. For example, on...

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A license sounds like a big commitment. I’m not ready for that yet. Can I wait a while to take a license?

A party interested in licensing a patent may ask the patent owner to hold the patent open for potential license until an...

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Does my US patent protect me in other countries?

No. A US patent only protects you in the US. Steven Saunders is an Intellectual Property Attorney at the Boston-based la...

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How do I handle international filings?

Ultimately, to protect your invention in other countries, you must file for patent in other countries. Unfortunately, th...

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External content: What is the patent process? (Via Dragon Innovation)

Dragon Innovation, a manufacturing consulting firm, has a great article about the patent process. Check it out. https://...

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External content: Cheat Sheet for Intellectual Property from Bricolage Law LLC

Click here to download a cheat sheet for IP, from a talk given by Eve Brown from Bricolage Law LLC on 8/18/16 in the Mar...

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External Content: Do entrepreneurs really need patents? (via MIT Bootcamps)

Watch a recorded webinar from the MIT Bootcamps group to learn whether entrepreneurs really need patents. Featuring Nath...

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External content: MIT Bootcamps webinar series on IP Law

MIT Bootcamps has produced a webinar series on IP Law. Check it out here . Special thanks to the MIT Bootcamps group for...

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