Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Patent Strategy for Startups
Peter Miller
17 September 2015
VORKSHOPVAREHARDV
V
why what when how
of patent strategy for startups.The
1) Patents are a time sink.
2) Patents are a money pit.
3) Everyone else has patents but us.
Patents suck.
Startups use patents to:
1) drive acquisition;
2) raise capital;
3) gain leverage; and
4) deter lawsuits.
Patents are tools.
Can startups also use patents to:
1) generate licensing revenue?
2) stop competitors?
Did I miss anything?
The two faces of patent law.
patentability
infringement
1)
2)
of a new concept
of another patent
Case study.
Arthur W. Savage ‘radial tire’
John Boyd Dunlop ‘pneumatic tire’
Q: Who can make a pneumatic radial tire?
Case study.
A: Neither.Q: Who can make a pneumatic radial tire?
patentability infringement
‘The invention is distinguishable
from the prior art.’
‘A product contains all elements of an independent claim
in a patent.’
So what?
‘Have you identified innovative technologies
and taken steps to protect them?’
‘Do your closest competitors have
any patents that you may infringe?’
patentability infringement
Investors care about both of these issues.
How to handle the question.infringement
Don’t.
~3,500,000 enforceable
patents
~3,500 patents in
your space
~35 relevant
patents by key competitors
If you must search…
35
20
1
founder: $0
patent firm: $2k
If you must search…
infringement specialist: $20k
Example 1.
A CEO and CTO walk into a patent firm.
CEO + CTO: “Patent this thing for us.”
Patent firm: “Ok. Please send us a big check.”
What to patent?
mediocre ^
Example 2.
A CEO and CTO walk into a patent firm.
CEO + CTO: “Patent this thing for us.”
Patent firm: “Hold up. Tell me about….”
Strategy first.
hiringdemo day
runwaydevelopment
product launch
core values
funding +
revenue
patentable concepts
timing
budget
valuePatent Strategy
Strategy first.
Example 2.
A CEO and CTO walk into a patent firm.
CEO + CTO: “Patent this thing for us.”
Patent firm: “Hold up. Tell me about….”
low- cost
industrial- grade
approachable
platform
UI
sensors
analytics
modularity
materials
construction
Ex.: Consumer Robotics, Inc.
iBeacons
*PRV :: provisional application text + figures ($) “patent pending”
t0mo
PRV *
Getting started.
t0mo 12mo
PRV APP
*APP :: non-provisional application text + figures + claims ($$$)
*
Patent timeline.
t0mo 12mo
PRV APP
18mo
Pub
*Pub :: publication APP + PRV publicly-accessible
*
Patent timeline.
t0mo 12mo
PRV APP
18mo
Pub
30mo
OA1
*OA1 :: first office action arguing with the USPTO
*
Patent timeline.
t0mo 12mo
PRV APP
18mo
Pub
30mo
OA1
36mo
OA2
*OA2 :: second office action more arguing…
*
Patent timeline.
t0mo 12mo
PRV APP
18mo
Pub
30mo
OA1
36mo
OA2
42mo
Pat.
*Pat. :: patent issued “patented”
*
Patent timeline.
Back to basics.
t0mo
PRV
12mo
APP
knowledge
tidea
beta
launch
0mo 12mo
PRV APP
Getting the timing right.
t0mo 12mo
APP
Getting the timing wrong.
Δ
PRVidea
beta
launch
knowledge
development
marketing
testing
manufacturing
facilities
adminIP
$
How to budget a patent portfolio.
development
marketing
testing
manufacturing
facilities
adminIP
How to budget a patent portfolio.
development
marketing
testing
manufacturing
facilities
admin
IP
How to budget a patent portfolio.
t
PRV1
PRV2seed
0mo 18mo
A
APP1 +
PRV3
APP2 +
PRV4
dev
t
How to scale a patent portfolio.
$pat
Recap.
1) Patents are growth tools, not liabilities.
2) Patentability ≠ Infringement 3) Strategy before execution. 4) Patent prototypes + products, not ideas. 5) Scale IP with development, traction, etc.
