When you need to protect your invention using the patent process, you may enter into a discussion with a patent examiner before a patent application can be granted. The patent application undergoes an assessment by a patent examiner to check whether it is patentable. It is the patent examiner's role to make sure that only concepts that are new and not obvious are afforded patent protection. The patent examiner has a duty to ensure that applicants do not obtain invalid patents.

During the patenting process, the patent examiner will provide their comments and opinions as to their assessment of whether the invention as described in the patent application is novel and inventive. The patent examiner usually does this by first issuing a written report. This report has different terms. This report is called different things in different countries, but is also known as an office action, an examination report or a notice.

A patent document (either a patent application or a granted patent) is often seen as a complicated document which is actually difficult to understand. But as an inventor it's often important to try to work out what a patent is describing. This might be because you want to understand what a competitor is doing, or because a patent attorney has asked you for your comments. Therefore this post aims to help an inventor understand how to interpret a patent document.

If you're a founder, you've probably heard the phrase "learn from failure." But when it comes to IP, some failures are too expensive to learn the hard way. I know, because I’ve made most of them. And sharing your mistakes is one of the most powerful ways of teaching others.

I’ve built deep tech companies, filed over 40 patents personally, and helped manage more than 300 patent families. I’ve also screwed up more IP strategy than I care to admit. And in a world where one bad decision can hand your entire moat to a competitor, those lessons stick.

So let’s get into the IP mistakes I’ll never make again!

When you protect an invention in a patenting process, it is normal to describe your invention in a way that a patent attorney can understand it. It is then the patent attorney's role to turn the words and inventor's description of the invention into a patent application. It is very common at the start of the patenting process to ask inventors to describe their invention. Often a patent attorney will ask the inventor to fill out a form - sometimes this is called an invention disclosure form, an invention disclosure statement, or an invention submission form etc.

In this instalment of Innovation Spotlight we meet Tommy Myrvang, the founder of Airission working to make clean air sustainable and accessible to all. For decades, air filtration has relied on filter systems that require frequent maintenance and filter changes. For Tommy, that approach was not good enough. Now, Airission has developed a revolutionary system free of disposable parts, regular replacements, significantly reducing the environmental footprint compared to  traditional ventilation systems.

Whether you're raising your first round, negotiating a strategic partnership, or preparing for an exit—your leverage determines your terms. You cannot compete, or even sell to, large incumbents without leverage. And your discussions with investors will depend on how much leverage you have.

One of the most overlooked (and underused) levers in the startup world? 

Patents.

Filing a patent application may be one of the smartest decisions a startup can make, but for many founders patents are also a source of headache. The process of filing a patent application can seem technical, expensive, and hard to navigate. I share those concerns. As a patent attorney with a background in engineering and business, I help startups protect their ideas in a way that fits their technology and growth strategy. The clients I work with don’t consider patents as just legal documents, but also business assets.

This guide addresses the key questions startups typically ask me when approaching patents and other intellectual property rights, with a clear and practical perspective on how to do it correctly in today’s tech landscape.

WEBINAR: What if we struck gold? - a Fireside chat

In this instalment of Innovation Spotlight, we meet Lars Svensson, the co-founder and CEO of Nordic Forestry Automation (NFA). Last year, they were recognised by Swedish tech magazine Ny Teknik as one of Sweden’s most promising tech startups. In this interview, we will learn more about how NFA got started, and how their perception system technology makes the forestry industry more sustainable – not only for the planet, but also for the machine operators.

WEBINAR: Hardware Companies Protecting Software - a Fireside chat

I get asked about 10 times a week how to protect AI-based technologies and products. It’s a tricky question, because patenting software inventions can be very tough in the US (and Europe), as the patent office dislikes providing protection for abstract ideas.

But let’s simplify the question by just looking at what the much-discussed OpenAI has done in this space. To date, OpenAI has 12 granted US patents. We don’t know how many more are pending, likely because those applications are still unpublished. What we can say is that they don’t seem to be pursuing protection outside of the US for their technology.

In Innovation Spotlight, we will shine a light on the inventors and entrepreneurs who are changing the world one invention at a time. In this instalment, we meet ATO Energy’s founders Peder Falkman and Elena Rakhimova, and get to learn more about the company’s inventive method to transform the energy grid market by increasing grid capacity. 

ATO Energy’s journey began in April 2024, when co-founders Peder Falkman and Elena Rakhimova realised that to continue their work of solving problems in the energy sector, they had to start their own company. Since then, they have worked hard with their team to develop a new software platform based on dynamic rating. 

Swedish legal tech company Lightbringer is accelerating its mission to revolutionise patent protection on a global scale. Backed by a €4.2 million funding round led by Luminar Ventures and Alliance VC, the company is now setting its sights on international expansion - starting with Cambridge, UK, one of the worldʼs most dynamic hubs for innovation.  

WEBINAR: Hardware Companies Protecting Software - a Fireside chat

A lot of innovative, creative, and brilliant people work behind the scenes at Lightbringer. In Team Talks, you will get to know the people/experts behind the AI. This time, we want to highlight our Product Specialists, who serve as the bridge between innovative entrepreneurs and the sometimes complex world of patent applications.

Jessica Karlsson and My Reimer share how they ended up at Lightbringer, what a regular day looks like, and how they help entrepreneurs protect their groundbreaking ideas. With backgrounds in biomedicine and electrical engineering, as well as startup experience, our specialists use their diverse expertise to simplify the patent process and allow inventors to focus on what they do best: innovate.

Customer story with TERASi and Lightbringer

Are you wondering how to protect your innovation from corporate giants? Concerned about the true cost of a patent?

Join us for a highly requested live Q&A session in the webinar series "Patents for Entrepreneurs," led by serial entrepreneur Ola Wassvik. This is your chance to ask experienced patent attorneys anything about IP strategy, patent costs, enforcement, and more.

Looking back, it's great to see the progress we have made. We started the year with just two product developers, and I'm happy to say we've grown into a team of six incredibly talented contributors. Each team member brings unique expertise and perspective to our mission of transforming patent protection through technology.