The High-touch Legal Services® Blog…for Startups!

© 2009-2021 Dana H. Shultz

Top Ten IP Mistakes of Small to Mid-Size Tech Companies

On June 18, I will make a presentation to the East Bay MashEx. The title: “The Top Ten Intellectual Property Mistakes of Small to Mid-Size Technology Companies”. (The handout is available as a Free Download on the Downloads page.)

Here are the mistakes that I will talk about:

  1. Failing to use employee invention agreements
  2. Assuming that the company owns contractors’ work product
  3. Using another company’s license agreement
  4. Thinking that patents are the only IP that matters
  5. Filing for a provisional patent before the scope of the invention is clear
  6. Treating the federal government like non-government infringers
  7. Neglecting to identify and protect trade secrets
  8. Believing that “open source” means “no restrictions”
  9. Giving the “family jewels” to an overseas supplier
  10. Registering the wrong entity as the owner of IP

This blog does not provide legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.