While all companies invest resources in developing and improving
their products and services, few actively consider using the patent
system to leverage their investment. Innovation can result from
improving the efficiency of existing processes or just adapting
products to market needs. For example, a supplier may invest
resources to modify a product to meet a need of a customer. From a
marketing perspective, the key focus is maintaining or enhancing
the company's market position, and once one project is
complete, the focus switches to the next.
However, pausing to consider the strategic use of the patent
system could be useful in protecting the company's market
position on a longer term basis. If a company patents an
innovation, then a competitor cannot use that innovation. Obtaining
a patent can therefore prevent a competitor from introducing a
"me too" product, or from using a process enhancement to
reduce their production costs. Accordingly, patenting an
