Do you have a new product idea based on proprietary information or intellectual property (IP) that you want to protect, but aren’t sure where to start? Or maybe you’re ready to apply for a patent but are unsure of the filing criteria and are discouraged by the time and cost requirements.
The truth is that there are many tradeoffs to consider when you have IP you want to protect. For example, when you file a patent you disclose your proprietary information in the patent application and will need to be able to defend it (often at substantial cost) if someone infringes. Sometimes, depending on the technology or product, it can be beneficial to keep your intellectual property private, as a “trade secret” rather than disclose the information in a formal patent application. This is an especially important consideration if you are thinking about selling your product internationally, as costs for filing for international patents can add up quickly.
To address these and many other issues and to help you decide which course of action is best for you, FuzeHub is presenting a webinar on December 10, 2019 at 1:00PM. You will learn about various means of keeping your intellectual property safe while dealing with contract manufacturers, business partners, and competitors.
To aid in our discussion we will be joined by Gavin McIntyre, Director of Business Development at Ecovative Design, and Molly Zimmerman, Associate Director of the New York State Science & Technology Law Center. Gavin will provide a first-hand account of his start-up’s experience with protecting their IP, including struggles and lessons learned, while Molly will present an overview of IP considerations and demystify the jargon that goes along with the patenting process.
Ecovative uses biology to solve fundamental human needs at industrial scales and in consumer applications. Ecovative uses mycelium to grow category defining products ranging from leatherlike textiles to sustainable packaging to high performance foams for apparel and beauty. Ecovative has been widely recognized for its technical and environmental contributions by organizations like the World Economic Forum and in the media including Wired Magazine, Forbes, and Time.
FuzeHub, the statewide Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) center for New York State, is offering this webinar as part of a series in our Build4Scale program, which covers product development topics important to NYS manufacturers who want to learn more about commercializing their products.
Learn more about the IP/patent webinar and register to attend.
