We spend a million a year on patents and nothing on trade secrets!

This approach is good for the patent attorneys but how good is it for your business?

What this statement says is that ‘we do not have any proprietary information worth protecting’…….

‘no data, no strategy documents, no test results, no launch plans that we value enough to protect’.

This statement is never true.

Is business too focussed on patents?

Emperor’s new clothes!

Sharing your invention with the world for ‘protection’ in a few key countries at a cost of £25k+ a go.

Hopefully you will not share all of your invention in the patent, you will keep some back (trade secrets). Remember a patent (should) starts it’s life as a trade secret.

Don’t get me wrong patents can be very important for your business but definitely as part of an overall balanced diet. You need protein, vegetables, fat, and some carbs, but you will get sick if you just eat carbohydrate.