Where can I find an IP checklist for startup companies?

What is an IP checklist?

An IP checklist helps a startup company to make sure that fundamental IP rights are adequately protected. At a minimum, startups should take necessary steps to register trademarks and file patent applications for any unique concepts.

Here are some key IP issues that entrepreneurs should consider during the early stages of a company’s growth:

How do IP issues relate to corporate issues?

At times, there can be significant overlap between your IP issues and your corporate issues. For example, choosing the right entity formation at the outset will affect the ownership of your IP rights. You may need to have licensing agreements drafted that involve your patent or trademark rights. Using a firm that can handle both your corporate and IP matters may be advantageous.

Not all IP attorneys are the same

An effective IP strategy requires not only a thorough IP checklist, but a patent attorney who can implement both the patent and trademark filings. Not all IP attorneys are the same. Some focus only on trademark filings since they are not patent attorneys registered with the USPTO. Others may file patent applications, but not trademark applications. Some attorneys focus more on IP litigation. Some might not even be attorneys, but patent agents. You’ll need dig a little deeper to find the particular areas of expertise in order to find a patent attorney that is the right fit for your business, especially if you have a combination of IP rights to protect.

Where can you find a useful startup IP checklist?

TechStartupLawyer.com has a Startup Intellectual Property Checklist broken down into four parts.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Thank you for rating my post!

We want to do better.

Could you tell us what was missing in our post?

Innovation Capital Law Group
Ready to Slay Goliath?

What IP do you need?*

What IP do you need?*

(Check all that apply)

Your Name*

Your Name*

Your Email*

Your Email*

Your Phone Number

Your Phone Number

Design Patent Money-Back Guarantee
Get your design patent allowed or attorney's fees refunded. Call or email Vic to see if your design qualifies.

Not sure where to start? Email Vic at vlin@icaplaw.com.

Copyright © Vic Lin 2023