Don't Waste Your Money on Patents

By: Josh Sloat

Ensuring Quality at Every Step

You’ve put too much into your innovation to come up short when its life depends on the measure of your patent. In the eyes of the patent office, judges, juries, PTAB admins, ITC officials, and IP-savvy investors, it doesn’t really matter how great, novel, or universe-denting your invention is if it is not properly defined and protected by your patent. The difference between a good patent and a bad one is the difference between a valuable, assertable, defendable property right – and a worthless vanity plate.

Fundamental Tension. Patents are not inexpensive and startups need patents when they can least afford them. This fundamental tension leads to two kinds of waste:​

• Patents aren’t for everyone and depending on circumstances, don’t always deliver ROI.
• When they make sense, corners are often cut with short-sighted decisions that save money now, but dramatically devalue the patent and its actual usefulness later.

So, when they do make sense, being intentional about quality is paramount in maximing your investment and avoiding waste. And the quality that goes in up front is directly proportional to the leverage it will give you later when you need it most. But what goes into a quality patent, and where possible, how do you get it without breaking the bank? Answering these questions will be the focus of our discussion.
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20Fathoms Lunch-and-Learn

Please join us at 20Fathoms in Traverse City for this free lunch-and-learn presentation. This is an in-person event and space is limited. Please register. Lunch will be provided!

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