Why a patent without a strategy has little value
By
Marco
Summary
This article argues that a patent alone is not valuable without a strategic plan to leverage it. Using the example of FDM 3D printing patented by Stratasys in 1989, it illustrates how even a well-designed patent can be worthless if not actively utilized. The piece is part of a series by patent attorney Marco Coolen offering insights into intellectual property strategy.
Source
Key quotes
· 3 pulledA patent can give you a monopoly. That sounds like hitting the jackpot: twenty years of protection, competitors kept at bay, and exclusive rights to a technology.
But a monopoly without a strategy can be surprisingly worthless.
The question isn't just whether you can protect something, but above all what you do with that protection afterward.
You might also wanna read
The Limited Role of Provisional Patents for Early-Stage Startups
The article discusses the role of provisional patents for early-stage startups, arguing that patents are generally not crucial for software
3M's Dual Legacy: Innovation Success and PFAS Legal Challenges
This article examines 3M's complex legacy, focusing on the company's successful innovations like the Command strip adhesive alongside its ma

Building a Business Case for Accessibility in B2B Products: A Strategic Guide
Gloria Diaz Alonso shares her journey of advocating for accessibility in B2B products, moving from frustration with business indifference to
Strategies for Selling When the User Isn't the Buyer
The article addresses the challenge of marketing a product when the user (e.g., a developer) is not the decision-maker (e.g., a CTO or Direc
IBM Patents Implementation of 200-Year-Old Mathematical Technique Using PyTorch
IBM has been granted a patent for implementing a 200-year-old mathematical technique (generalized continued fractions and series transformat
The distribution paradox: Building a platform is easy, getting users to find it is the real challenge
The article discusses the ironic and painful realization that building a platform (ClaudeFolio) to solve distribution problems for others do
