Investors are serious about IP
Do investors really care if you have intellectual property protection?
By now you are probably rightly asking yourself questions such as: “How is getting a patent related to getting fellowship money?” And, “Why would I pay money to get a patent - when I’m the one who is looking for money in the first place?”
To answer these questions, let's look at it from an investor's point of view. When evaluating an investment opportunity, one of the attributes of a business plan that investors can care a great deal about is the existence of valid and enforceable intellectual property (IP) protection. For you, enforceable IP protection starts by getting a provisional. In some cases, such as the software business, patents are difficult to establish and generally don’t convert into significant competitive advantage. In other cases however, such as the pharmaceuticals arena, effective patent protection is central to profitability and innovators will go to great lengths to obtain and defend them. Many innovations fall somewhere in between these two extremes.
Given that establishing patent rights can be very expensive:
· When does it make sense for student entrepreneurs to invest in patent protection?
· What are the steps to follow when filing for patent protection?
· Where do you go to talk to someone about patent issues? and
· When and how can a patent agent or law firm help student fellows protect their new ideas, and how can you benefit from patent protection?
Entrepreneurs and students will need to consider these questions in choosing a cost effective patenting strategy.
© 2007 Dr. Gary Plourde
About the Author
Dr. Gary Plourde is an independent author. He writes about patents, licensing of ideas, inventions and the patenting process.
Contact a Janus Professional by email
Want more information on the Janus Patents Fellowship? Click here
Interested in getting a patent yourself to potentially generate revenue for your business, scholarship, study abroad, or sabbatical? Click here
By now you are probably rightly asking yourself questions such as: “How is getting a patent related to getting fellowship money?” And, “Why would I pay money to get a patent - when I’m the one who is looking for money in the first place?”
To answer these questions, let's look at it from an investor's point of view. When evaluating an investment opportunity, one of the attributes of a business plan that investors can care a great deal about is the existence of valid and enforceable intellectual property (IP) protection. For you, enforceable IP protection starts by getting a provisional. In some cases, such as the software business, patents are difficult to establish and generally don’t convert into significant competitive advantage. In other cases however, such as the pharmaceuticals arena, effective patent protection is central to profitability and innovators will go to great lengths to obtain and defend them. Many innovations fall somewhere in between these two extremes.
Given that establishing patent rights can be very expensive:
· When does it make sense for student entrepreneurs to invest in patent protection?
· What are the steps to follow when filing for patent protection?
· Where do you go to talk to someone about patent issues? and
· When and how can a patent agent or law firm help student fellows protect their new ideas, and how can you benefit from patent protection?
Entrepreneurs and students will need to consider these questions in choosing a cost effective patenting strategy.
© 2007 Dr. Gary Plourde
About the Author
Dr. Gary Plourde is an independent author. He writes about patents, licensing of ideas, inventions and the patenting process.
Contact a Janus Professional by email
Want more information on the Janus Patents Fellowship? Click here
Interested in getting a patent yourself to potentially generate revenue for your business, scholarship, study abroad, or sabbatical? Click here
posted by Janus-Patents: A 21st Century IP Holding House | 12:23 PM
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