← 5 Biggest Mistakes Tech Entrepreneurs Make When Protecting Intellectual Property

Infringe

By Marcia Wade Talbert | Published December 4, 2012 | Full size is 620 × 480 pixels

5. Developing technology without ensuring that the technology does not violate someone else’s intellectual property rights. There is little that will threaten the survival of a start-up company more than a patent infringement lawsuit filed against it. Patent infringement lawsuits are very expensive, and if a company is found to infringe on someone’s patent, a court can stop the infringer from selling the infringing product. Companies should put in place a system that includes monitoring issued and pending patents to avoid developing technology that will infringe on a third party’s patent. That system can be internal, or it can be outsourced to a company or firm that specializes in providing what is typically referred to as “clearance opinions” for developing technology.

5. Developing technology without ensuring that the technology does not violate someone else’s intellectual property rights.…