To avoid forfeiting a patent, OEMs should take these steps when
working with suppliers.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when
it comes to protecting your intellectual property (IP) while
working with third-party suppliers. For the unprepared, prior
dealings with suppliers (e.g., a contract manufacturer) can pose a
risk to the patentability of their inventions. (Mircea
Tipescu will speak on the topic of protecting IP when
working with suppliers February 11 at MD&M
West.)
Often, such companies are small to medium-sized businesses, and
the forfeiture inadvertently occurs prior to receiving legal
advice. These companies may not have the risk management
procedures, such as regular supply chain audits, common in large
organizations or lack systems to track valuable information across
platforms and with third parties.
