Despite what you may have heard, patents continue to foster
competition and innovation and are essential to success in
technology driven markets. To operate successfully in these
markets, in-house counsel, program managers, Chief Technical
Officers, and other executives in technology companies should know
a few basics about patents and implementing a patent program.
Have a Plan
To successfully develop a patent portfolio, you have start with
a plan. A sound patent strategy is one that is aligned with
your company's business goals. Questions to consider
include: does the company wish to aggressively prevent others from
making and using their technology? Does the company want to
use patents to increase company value? Is the company in a
business sector with litigious competitors? What do
competitor patent portfolios look like? Does the company plan
to implement an offensive IP plan or a defensive IP plan? The
answers to these questions can help start-up
