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.

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.

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.

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.

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), navigating the patent process can be complex and costly. However, avoiding certain common mistakes can significantly improve the chances of obtaining strong, valuable patents that align with business goals. Below, we outline the eight common pitfalls SMEs face patenting - and how you can avoid them.

One of the most powerful tools an innovator or company can have in their arsenal is a patent. As soon as you file your patent application, you are legally entitled to use the “Patent Pending” status, and it provides immediate benefits across various aspects of your business—from customer trust to investor confidence and even competitive positioning.

When you're conducting a patent search, it may be a daunting task, and you may worry about missing relevant earlier documents (“prior art”). The novelty search process involves searching for existing inventions, narrowing down results, and refining your shortlist.

Here's a step-by-step guide to help streamline your approach.

As an inventor or business owner, deciding where to seek patent protection around the world is a crucial step in your intellectual property strategy. Here are five key considerations to help guide your decision-making process.

This is a key question many company founders will consider before investing time and money in pursuing patent protection for their ideas. Here is a list of some considerations for your venture before starting your patenting journey.