1.
Patent protection:
myths and mistakes
Mikk Putk, patent attorney
Sarap & Putk Patent Agency

2.
Thinking that patents are the only
intellectual property
Patent = Intellectual Property
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3.
Thinking that you don’t have any
intellectual property
Every company has at least:
• Domain name
• Trademark
• Know how,
• Copyrights,
• Trade secret
• etc
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4.
Relying on one type of intellectual
property protection
One single product can be protected for example by:
• Copyrights,
• Patent,
• Trademark,
• Trade secret;
• Know-how,
• Design registration
http://www.slideshare.net/mtarrant/valuing-intellectual-property
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5.
The product has global market –
I want to patent it everywhere!
Stop! There is no world-wide patent nor you are going
to commercialize your product in every single country!
Examples of different patent systems
Validating granted
European patent
Deadline to file
PCT, EP or
national patent
applications
Filing US provisional,
EP, PCT or national
patent application as
a priority application Publication
Request for
examination
(If the EP
application is filed)
6 36 48
0 12 18 30 Months
Alternative patent systems:
Preliminary search
report from EPO
1. PCT (international patent application);
2. Eurasian Patent application;
3. National patent application (e.g. US, JP,
AU, CA, CN, etc)
If the first application was PCT
application then 30 months form
filing date is the deadline to file
national applications
24
DE
UK
ES
IT,
etc
US
JP
AU
CN, etc
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6.
Failing to conduct prior art search
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7.
Publishing your IP before securing
your rights
• Disclosure of the invention
(without a Non-Disclosure
Agreement)
• Publishing a research
paper
• Relying on grace-period
http://www.humorburst.com/internet-vs-intellectual-property/
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8.
Doing It Yourself
Be aware of: Non-official online filing systems; Different IP protection systems; Patent Jargon
• Toy ball = spherical object with floppy filaments to promote sure capture
• Swimming pool = Water-retaining recreational structure
• Balloon = Spherical device
• Pen = writing instrument
• Spring = energy-storing mean
• nail, screw = fastening means
• Battery = electrical power source for electronic circuits
http://technology.ie/intellectual-property-explained-visually/
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9.
The IP protection is not linked to your
business plan
Fujitsu: “We are promoting an intellectual property strategy closely integrated with
our business and R&D strategies. ”
Idea Development Production Selling
http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/tech/intellectualproperty/
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10.
Relying on a single patent
Competitor
P2 P3 Pn P1
Competitor
P1
Competitor
P2 P3 Pn
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11.
Failing to create original trademark
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12.
Avoiding to regulate your IP rights in
contracts
Source: http://i-to-m.com/product-development/
Management
Colleagues
Author
Manufacturers
Partners
Researchers
Engineers
Programmers
Designers
Marketing
Dealers, resellers
Licensees
Media, publishers
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13.
Other myths & mistakes
• Requesting everyone to sign NDA
• Outsourcing: Freelancer, Elance, O-Desk,
99designs etc
• Overspending or underspending on IP
protection
• No plan nor strategy what, where and how to
protect
• Ignoring a Competitor's Patent
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14.
Where to start?
• What intellectual property do you have?
– Identify your IP!
• Who owns your intellectual property?
– Check your contracts!
• Do you have the rights?
– Conduct freedom to operate search!
– Conduct freedom to use search!
• Start protecting your IP step by step!
– Register domain names & trademarks!
– Avoid infringement of other’s IP rights!
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15.
15
Thank you!
Presentations:
http://www.slideshare.net/patent/presentations/
Contact
Sarap & Putk Patent Agency, http://www.patent.ee, patent@patent.ee
Tartu: Margus Sarap, margus.sarap@patent.ee, tel 747 7058
Tallinn: Mikk Putk, mikk.putk@patent.ee, 53 039 088, Skype: mikkputk
https://www.facebook.com/Patent.ee
14.10.2014
Is the class half empty or half full?
Answer:
Liquid H20 bisects an open cylindrical vessel