Crowdfunding and Intellectual Property: Don't wait until it's too Late!

1. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY &
CROWDFUNDING:
Don’t Wait until it’s too Late!
Mary Juetten, Founder & CEO
Twitter: @TSLCCEvents
Traklight.com
www.thesoholoft.com @traklight

2. KEY QUESTIONS:
Do I have any Intellectual Property
and why do I care?
What is Intellectual Property and when
do I protect it?
How do I know what to do first?
Disclaimer: This is intended to be general information.
Nothing in this presentation constitutes legal advice.
Please consult with an attorney before making any
intellectual property protection decisions.
Twitter: @TSLCCEvents

3. GOT INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY? Why Care?
• IP theft costs US companies $250 billion annually
• 100% of all companies have IP
• 700K new startups annually vs.. 20% protected IP after 1st year
• IP is most valuable asset and not on your Balance Sheet
• Exclude competition; Attract investment (incl. crowdfunding);
Leverage & license
• Avoid IP loss, infringement, business failure
Twitter: @TSLCCEvents

4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY &
CROWDFUNDING
REWARDS BASED:
Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Rocket Hub  How it works online!
EQUITY BASED:
Not yet legal  Online Business Planning Required
…
Twitter: @TSLCCEvents

5. What is IP?
• Patents (utility & design)
• Copyright ©
• Trademarks/Servicemarks TMSM®
• Trade secrets – unsung heroes
Twitter: @TSLCCEvents

6. BIG IDEA? FIRST STEP:
IDENTIFY IP
•Existing & filed
•Existing & protected
•Ideas
•Know how
•Marketing collateral
•Branding
•Website url
•Employees/Contractors
•CROWDFUNDING
Twitter: @TSLCCEvents

7. COMMON ISSUES
Who owns it?
Patent vs. Trade Secrets
Enabling Public Disclosure
Examples of IP Loss
Twitter: @TSLCCEvents

8. BE PREPARED – RESOURCES:
CfPA, CfIRA
Crowdfundingroadmap.com Annual
Oct 14th – 16th Convention &
Bootcamp
Crowdfundcast.com – podcast
Getting Started with Crowdfunding
Investing for Dummies in a Day
Crowfunding Hatchery
Traklight.com/IP Cloud – free resources
Twitter: @TSLCCEvents

9. QUESTIONS?
mejuetten@traklight.com
Twitter: @TSLCCEvents