The patent system is designed to stimulate invention by providing inventors with a monopoly to develop and commercialise their invention. Applying for a patent can be a fairly lengthy process but there are many benefits associated with filing a patent. In order for a patent to be granted, the invention has to be novel and involve an inventive step.

A domain name is an address made up of letters or a combination of letters and numbers, where internet users can access a business’s website. A domain name registration can also function as a trade mark by distinguishing the source of goods/services from other traders.

When starting a business, the registration of your trade mark, logo and/or business name should be an important consideration. Trade mark registration provides important advantages over unregistered trade marks.

Possibly the most basic feature of a brand is the brand name, which is the unstylised text by which the brand is known. A good brand name can successfully cement a mental connection between the brand and the product.

Disclaimer: I’m an engineer and an entrepreneur, not a patent attorney so nothing I say should be considered as legal advice. If you ask a patent attorney, inventor, or new entrepreneur this question, they will tell you that a patent should be your first priority. They may also incorrectly encourage you to keep your idea a secret until you have the protection of a patent in place. Patent attorneys will of course encourage you to get a patent as soon as possible, because this is how they make their money. It makes no difference to them if your product actually

Instead of defensible IP, investors should be looking for startups with trade secrets, protected by good-old fashioned secrecy.

Patenting your app might not be practical for startups and small businesses. Here’s why.

LegalVision patent scientist, Shivangi Chouhan, explains when and why startups should seek international patent protection for inventions.

Intellectual property for startups includes using copyrights, trademarks, and patents to preventing others from infringing on and profiting from your ideas