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Nuts & Bolts of Intellectual Property for New Startups

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Having covered all the bases to ensure that your corporate name is available, the domain name can be acquired, and the name doesn’t infringe any existing trademarks (as we discussed last week ), now is a good time to look at the categories of intellectual property (IP) that are relevant to most startups. Intellectual property.

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Intellectual Property for Startups in the Real World

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Last month we covered the basics of intellectual property (IP) for startups, including a simple taxonomy, some common issues and related documents for entrepreneurs to use when forming a new startup. How much is it worth investing in cultivating and enforcing an IP portfolio ? Barriers to entry ?

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Do It Right The First Time: Avoiding “Janitorial” Legal Work

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Nevertheless, choosing to defer basic corporate housekeeping items can be disastrous in some circumstances, as when the failure to spend a few thousand dollars on legal fees to clarify IP ownership and equity arrangements comes back to bite a successful company to the tune of millions of dollars on the eve of a liquidity event. Good stuff!

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Copywrong Again: Founding the Next Pinterest or Napster?

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Copyright is not the only type of IP right implicated — and others such as rights of privacy and publicity become increasingly relevant in the age of social media — but it provides many of the most accessible examples.

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Can Your Startup Flourish Despite Business Chaos?

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Don’t count on your IP to save you. There are always people around with deeper pockets that can find synergy between your space and theirs. Once they see you have developed credible traction, they can grab your space with less cost (meaning lower price) than you had to put into developing it. Employees stop innovating.

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You are the Best One to Build Your Startup Brand

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I hear lots of excuses from startup founders, like “I’m too busy,” concern over IP security, can’t afford an agency, and it’s too early. As an entrepreneur, it’s never too early to start selling yourself and your idea. The result is they get no feedback, no credibility, no visibility, and no investors until months later than they expect.

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Do It Right The First Time, Part II: Visit the Doctor or House Call?

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From choosing a legal entity or jurisdiction to properly documenting IP assignments and stock issuances to complying with securities laws and avoiding potentially enormous tax penalties in the future, there is plenty here to warrant consulting a professional.