A patent protection generally lasts for 20 years. But to maintain such protection, certain fees are required to be paid at fixed intervals. These are called maintenance fees. But what happens if you fail to pay the maintenance fees within the given time limit? The answer is simple. If you do not pay, you do […]
The panic in the inventor’s voice was impossible to miss. He walked into our office straight from the airport with his backpack still slung over one shoulder. His deep-tech startup had just finished a demo in Singapore, and a competitor there hinted, very casually, that they were “working on something similar.” For any inventor, that […]
Introduction Although patent rights are territorial, the commercial potential of an invention is not limited by borders. Most IP offices today allow foreign applicants to file for patent protection. This means the exclusive right to prevent others from making, using, selling, or importing your invention can be expanded beyond your home country. Such expansion can […]
Most new inventions don’t stand on their own. Today, to make something work and meet industry standards, you often need to combine it with several existing technologies to make them interoperable. Imagine creating a smart TV. The features that make it “smart”, like Wi-Fi, video compression, or touchscreen controls, are held by different companies in […]
In an era where ideas hit the internet before breakfast through preprints like GitHub commits, Discord forum dumps, LinkedIn “build in public” threads, and even leaked pitch decks, your idea might already be public domain before you file your first provisional. Patent examiners are finding these breadcrumbs with AI-powered search engines that never sleep. Welcome […]
What is easier to understand? An instruction manual with illustrations or one that’s just a written description? Of course, it’s the one with the illustrations, because it helps us to understand the manual better. You can use these illustrations to visualize the object and to know which part you need to adjust, change, or open […]
Introduction Today, in the field of patents, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a powerful ally. By supporting inventors, IP professionals, and patent attorneys in conducting searches, managing prosecution, and streamlining the drafting process; AI is giving them time to focus on more strategic aspects of innovation. In fact, the 2024 survey conducted by FICPI’s […]
When a fast-growing consumer tech startup came to us with a full IP portfolio already in place (multiple trademarks, two pending patents, one design registration across six countries), we expected them to be protected. What we didn’t expect was this question from the founder: “Are we doing this right? Because honestly, none of this seems […]
Six months ago, a founder came to us in a panic. Her startup had just launched a new health-tech prototype. She had pitched it at a demo day, received overwhelming interest from two major investors, and suddenly found herself racing against time. “We filed a provisional patent right before the pitch,” she said. “But now […]
You’ve built something innovative—maybe even revolutionary. It’s functional. It solves a real problem. Your instinct tells you: protect it. And that’s correct. But when it comes to patents, timing and strategy are everything. In practice, many patent filings are rushed. The result? Weak protection, unnecessary delays, and in some cases, outright rejection. Filing a patent […]