Intellectual Property for Founders

Patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets protect different things. These guides explain which one fits what you built, and what to do before you raise money or go public.

• Provisional Patent Applications for StartupsWhat a provisional patent application does for a startup, what it costs you if you wait, and the 12-month deadline to file a full application.
• How to Trademark Your Startup NameHow a startup protects its name and logo: search first, then register with the USPTO. Covers the base fee per class and what registration adds.
• Protect Your IP Before You FundraiseWhat investors ask about intellectual property, and how to put a startup's patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets in order before you pitch.
• Patent Attorney or Patent Agent for a Startup?Patent attorney or patent agent? Both can prepare and prosecute your patent application. Learn what differs and how to verify a registered practitioner.
• Patent vs Trade Secret for StartupsHow a startup decides between patenting an invention and keeping it a trade secret: disclosure, cost, duration and how easily competitors could copy it.

General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, talk to a registered patent practitioner or trademark attorney.