Intellectual Property: Protect and Leverage Your Innovations
In a world where innovation drives success, Intellectual Property (IP) is essential for protecting your ideas,
technologies, and creations. Whether you're a tech entrepreneur launching a startup, an investor looking to secure
valuable assets, or an inventor with a groundbreaking idea, having a solid IP strategy can mean the difference
between market leadership and losing control of your invention.
This page covers many things you need to know about patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. Learn how to
protect, monetize, and strategically manage IP to gain a competitive edge and avoid legal pitfalls.
How do you apply for a patent?
What's the difference between copyright and trademark protection?
Smart IP strategies for startups, investors, and inventors
Whether you're an inventor with a world-changing innovation looking to launch a tech startup or someone seeking to sell
their invention to the right buyer, a strong IP strategy is key to unlocking its full potential.
Below, you'll find articles that provide insights and guidance to help you navigate the world of intellectual property.
Get comprehensive information and learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of applying for and maintaining a patent
Applying for a patent can be a powerful way to protect your invention, but is it always the right choice?
Understanding the patent process, eligibility requirements, and potential drawbacks is crucial before making a
decision.
If you've developed an innovative product or technology, you're likely thinking about how to bring it to
market—whether by launching a startup, licensing your idea, or attracting investors. While patents can provide
exclusive rights and competitive advantages, they also require time, effort, and financial investment. In some
cases, alternative intellectual property strategies may be more effective.
Want to know if a patent is the right path for your innovation? Learn more about how to apply, when it makes sense,
and what to consider before filing.
The potential infringement of Apple on a Masimo patent
The longstanding dispute between Apple and the medical technology company Masimo
over a potential infringement by Apple on a Masimo patent, claiming that the patented technology is being used
in Apple Watches without permission. Why are these companies engaged in such a significant battle involving
their patents? It's expected that these watches, capable of measuring vital functions at home, will play a
crucial role in monitoring one's health without the need for a doctor and automatically transmitting medical
data to, for instance, a local healthcare center or a hospital. This kind of technology is anticipated to be
highly significant in the shift toward an enormous market...
How does copyright work for animals and why can't the selfie monkey claim copyright on its own photo?
Is it possible for a monkey to obtain copyright on a selfie it took itself? Almost everyone who regularly surfs the
internet and social media has seen the above selfie of the monkey and had a good laugh about it. The creature had
grabbed someone's camera, put on its most charming smile, and taken the above photo. Nice story. But, as is often
the case with too good stories, it also went a bit differently in this case, and this monkey business also had a
legal sequel regarding the copyright on the selfie. Twice there have been lawsuits over the copyright of the
monkey's selfie. How does this work?...
Several times, Theo Tempels, the inventor of the notch in the rusk, has faced legal challenges as companies
questioned the validity of his patent when they wanted to apply the notch in their products. The legal requirement
of inventiveness of the invention described in the patent, in particular, was also called into question. Yet again, the court ruled in favor of the
inventor....
Discover the fascinating story of Jan Sloot, his groundbreaking technology, and the lessons about confidentiality, innovation, and business partnerships.
Bringing a disruptive idea to market, like Jan Sloot's extraordinary invention which is told in this page, involves both
incredible opportunities and significant risks. The Sloot story vividly illustrates the challenges of maintaining
secrecy while pursuing development and partnerships. From navigating confidentiality agreements to securing patents,
there are clear steps every inventor can take to avoid pitfalls and maximize their invention's value...
What is the meaning of intellectual property? When you have developed an invention, you may consider patenting it.
Patenting an invention belongs legally to the so-called intellectual property law.
On
this page, we will introduce the conceptual framework of intellectual property law (IP). In addition to
patents, this covers Copyright, Design Rights, and Trademark Law, among others.
In other words, it covers rights to creations of the human mind. Patents on inventions are the most well-known, but
it also includes literary works, names, music, images, symbols, and designs for commercial use.
The idea behind intellectual property law is to provide a system and guarantee to reward inventors, authors, and
other creative minds for their efforts.
What is intellectual property?
When someone has written a specific text, others are not allowed, according to
copyright law, to simply copy and use it. This is even considered a legal offense and is regulated by copyright
laws. It's unnecessary to include the copyright symbol to assert copyright protection. Additionally, there's no
obligation to register or formally record the texts to enforce copyright. However, certain conditions must be met for a work to qualify for copyright
protection.
What is copyright?
The Unitary Patent System, which became effective on June 1, 2023, is a European patent
that grants protection for your invention across all EU countries participating in the Unitary Patent System with
just one granted patent. At its launch, this covered 17 countries. This system eliminates the need for separate
patent examinations in each member state because the Unitary Patent automatically provides protection in all participating
EU countries upon grant.
The Unitary Patent System for getting a patent in the EU
Not all intellectual property (IP) protection works the same way—especially when it comes to patents. Many
innovators wonder if they can patent an idea without a fully developed invention. While the answer is technically
yes, a patent application must include a detailed and concrete description of how the idea works in practice.
Patents are granted for inventions, not just concepts. If your innovation is still in the early stages, you may need
to refine and document it thoroughly before securing IP protection. Read more on the page about applying for a patent on an idea.
How to patent an idea
A patent provides protection against unauthorized production, use, storage, and sale of a product,
technology, or method by others, without permission from the patent holder. This wrongful act is called
patent infringement and constitutes a violation of
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). The patent grants the patent holder the right to take legal action
against such infringements.
What is patent infringement?
The abbreviation MTA stands for Material Transfer Agreement. It is a legal contract used in the transfer of research
material between two parties, such as universities or research institutions. There is also a similar document for
the transfer of data (the DTA) or a combination of both (the MDTA). In many cases, the transferred materials fall
under intellectual property rights, such as patents and copyrights. An MTA outlines the conditions under which the
transfer takes place, including the rights and obligations of the parties involved, and it governs any restrictions
on the use or distribution of the materials.
What is a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)?
A Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA). In the world of intellectual property,
protecting sensitive information is just as important as securing formal rights like patents or trademarks. One of
the most common legal tools for this is the non-disclosure agreement (NDA), also referred to as a Confidentiality
Agreement (CDA). These agreements allow individuals or companies to share confidential information while legally
preventing others from disclosing it.
Because NDAs come in many forms and vary from case to case, it's important to understand what key elements an NDA
should contain. On our dedicated page, you'll find an easy-to-follow checklist and a customizable NDA template to
help you navigate these agreements with confidence.
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA): checklist and template
Read about the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). This treaty,
signed by more than 150 countries, allows a patent to be registered in
multiple countries through a single application. This temporarily protects the invention in all participating countries.
After registration, the examination process follows,
and if the application is approved, the inventor must choose in which countries the patent should be pursued.
Applying for a Worldwide Patent: The PCT Route
About Siert Bruins
Hello! I'm Siert Bruins, a Dutch entrepreneur and founder of a.o. Life2Ledger B.V. With a background in Medical
Biology and a Ph.D. in clinical diagnostics from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, I've spent decades in the world
of innovation, especially at the intersection of Universities, Companies, and Academic Hospitals in the fields
of life Sciences, Healthcare, and Technology.
Since 2009, I've been running the Dutch version of this website, sharing insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, and
have recently expanded to an international audience with the English version, Technoventure.eu. My work focuses on
the development and validation of medical devices, including sensors for home diagnostics, as well as using
blockchain technology to ensure the authenticity and provenance of medical datasets for AI applications.
To put it bluntly: how can you be sure that you train, validate, test and use your algorithms with the datasets
that you believe to be the right ones?
I've had the privilege of navigating the entrepreneurial journey, learning from both successes and failures. My
current project, Life2Ledger, aims to support healthcare data integrity with blockchain technology, offering
solutions to ensure the trustworthiness of datasets in decentralized health systems.
I believe that innovation is about learning through experience and I'm open to sharing my experiences with others.
If you're interested in connecting, feel free to
visit my LinkedIn profile. or follow my
updates on X.
Technoventure.eu was founded in 2012 and has evolved over the years to serve inventors, innovators, and deep tech entrepreneurs.
Since 2024, our focus is on the smartest path: build to sell.
