Expertise
Intellectual property (IP) law protects the creations of your mind — inventions, brand identities, creative works, and trade secrets. For technology companies, IP is often the most valuable asset on the balance sheet. Proper IP strategy means protecting what you've built, avoiding inadvertently infringing on others, and ensuring your company actually owns the IP your team creates.
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Common questions about intellectual property.
What's the difference between a patent, trademark, and copyright?
Patents protect inventions and novel processes (20-year protection). Trademarks protect brand identifiers like names, logos, and slogans (indefinite with renewal). Copyright protects original creative works — code, writing, art, music (life of author + 70 years, automatic upon creation). Most businesses need at least trademark protection; tech companies often pursue patents too.
Does my startup need to worry about IP if we haven't built anything patentable yet?
Yes — two things matter immediately. First, ensure your company owns all IP created by your founders and employees via IP assignment agreements. Second, conduct a trademark search before launching your brand name. These are low-cost, high-stakes steps that many early startups skip.
How much does it cost to file a patent?
A provisional patent application (which gives you 12 months of 'patent pending' status) typically costs $1,500–$5,000 in attorney fees plus USPTO filing fees. A full utility patent costs $10,000–$30,000+ depending on complexity. An IP consultant can help you decide whether patenting is the right strategy before investing that amount.
What is a trademark search and do I need one before launching?
A trademark search checks whether your brand name or logo conflicts with existing registered marks. You should do this before investing in branding, marketing, or domain acquisition. Launching without a search and later receiving an infringement claim can force a costly rebrand. A search session with an IP expert takes 1–2 hours.