How to Avoid an Intellectual Property Disaster
Presented on Friday, May 15, 2025. In this video, intellectual property attorney Dr. Steven Colby discusses ways a startup can benefit or be hurt by their approach to intellectual property. Emphasis will be on avoiding critical mistakes for your startup. Steve discusses: 1) The dark side 2) Owning your intellectual property 3) Avoiding others' intellectual property 4) Intellectual property benefits 5) Creating value 6) Power to the little guy and more! About the Speaker: Dr. Steven Colby is a partner and patent attorney at Rimon Law. He focuses on early stage startups and develops IP with a view of increasing company valuation. Steve received his Ph.D. from Indiana University, Bloomington, where he focused on the development and design of scientific instruments. He has over 40 published scientific papers and abstracts and holds several patents. Prior to becoming a patent attorney, Dr. Colby was director of product development for a scientific instrument company. His professional background extends to software and hardware development, website development, manufacturing management, electronics, sensors, measurement devices, control systems, mass spectrometry, chromatography, and bioanalysis.
How to Avoid an Intellectual Property Disaster
- 1. HOW TO AVOID AN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DISASTER Steven Colby, JD, Ph.D. Patent Attorney – Rimon Law, PC steven.colby@rimonlaw.com © Steven Colby 2025 05/16/2025
- 2. THE DARK SIDE… WHATYOU DON’T KNOW CAN HURT
- 3. MISTAKES 1) Ownership 2) Ownership 3) Waiting 4) No Strategy 5) Understanding the Patent 1) Specification 2) Claims
- 4. OWNINGYOUR IP • Ownership initially vests in the INVENTORS (USA) • Applications must be assigned to the company • Assign Clauses • Employer IP • Assignment process
- 5. OTHER PEOPLE’S IP • The start-up viewpoint • Read the literature • Keep records • Open source trap
- 6. WHEN DO I NEEDTO START THINKING ABOUT IP? • Yesterday….
- 7. STRATEGY • Patent for the Marketing Person, Not the Engineer • Product Driven • Focus onValuation • Make IP more than just a Checkbox
- 8. UNDERSTANDING THE PATENT. • SPECIFICATION • CLAIMS • FAMILIES • PRIORITY
- 9. SEEING THE LIGHT… IP CAN MAKE YOU RICH(ER)
- 10. WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS? WHY WOULD A CASH LIMITED STARTUP PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTOTHE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IP PORTFOLIO?
- 11. WHAT CAN I GET? • Copyright • Trademark • Trade Secrets • Patents
- 12. COMMON TYPES OF PATENTS AND APPLICATIONS PROVISIONAL • Placeholder • Quick & Easy • Inexpensive • ONEYear NON-PROVISIONAL • Ornamental • 14 years • Moderate Cost DESIGN • Enforceable Rights • 20 years • High Cost
- 13. WILL I RULE THE WORLD WITH MY PATENTS?
- 14. WHAT DOES THIS ALL COST? 2500 18000 30000 $0 $5,000 $10,000 $15,000 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000 $35,000 Provisional Non-Provisional filing Patent Issue Patent Costs (US) First Application Family Members