Author Archives: mwillee

Previously in our Intellectual Property (IP) Best Practices series, we introduced step five to managing your IP: limiting access to sensitive information. Please check back every Monday for the next step in this series. For all those who have absolute faith in humanity, being cautious is not the same as being cynical. Swearing on one’s honorContinue reading “IP Best Practices: Well-Drafted Agreements, Step 6”

Intellectual property theft continues to be an expensive business problem around the world, costing businesses billions of dollars. While you might have some of it protected already, what happens when one of your employees decides to move on to another company and clandestinely takes some of your intellectual property (IP) with them? It is aContinue reading “Protect Against Ex-Employee Intellectual Property Theft”

Previously on our Taking the Scary Out of Startup series, we discussed how your team is key to the success of your business. Relationships Matter “How do you know this person?” is a question that I am often asked. Sometimes, it takes about twelve degrees of separation to trace back to the original connection. MoreContinue reading “Taking the Scary Out of Startup: Why Startups Succeed, Part 13”

For those not keeping up with the technological trends of America’s youths, Snapchat is a mobile app that allows you to send photos and videos to contacts that are supposed to delete themselves after a few seconds. It gives young people a fun, fast, and free means to communicate with one another that won’t regrettablyContinue reading “Snapchat Files Trademarks as Part of IP Protection Strategy”

While seeking funding from investors or being acquired, the first step most third parties conduct is due diligence. Diligence is basically an in-depth review of a business’ official and legal documents. In case of startups composed predominantly of intellectual property, diligence is conducted to assure that the intellectual property actually belongs to them, preventing futureContinue reading “IP Vault Best Practices: Manage and Store your Data”

For some reason, the past twelve months have presented me with an unusual amount of opportunity to take risks. Some of them I have taken, while others I have dismissed. The decision whether or not to take these risks was a rather boring process—with level-headed consideration about what risks would actually benefit me, and whatContinue reading “How Risk in Business Can Be A Good Thing”

Previously on our Taking the Scary Out of Startup series, we discussed reviewed five tips to fundraising, because funding is hard!  Roadmap Sometimes I think that if we plotted out the path that we have taken so far, it would be scary to see how many times we went in circles or backwards. But thatContinue reading “Taking the Scary Out of Startup: Why Startups Succeed, Part 18”

When a company in the startup phase is contemplating protecting intellectual property (IP), there are several important steps to be taken. The first item on the list is realizing this is not a one-step process. Intellectual property is an idea, a theory, a plan of action, and a lot of other things. However, all ofContinue reading “Protecting Intellectual Property as a Startup”

Last week’s Traklight on Forbes series highlighted the Jobs Act and Crowdfunding: Will They Finally ‘#ReleaseTheRules’? Check back every Thursday for more content. Thanks for reading! After recently moderating a panel with five CEOs, Mary asked each of them what lesson they learned in the pursuit of their own business innovations, and what advice they might pass along toContinue reading “Forbes Update: 5 CEOs Talk Innovation And Commercialization”

Every small business should have a basic understanding of the laws that apply to protecting intellectual property. It is the only way a company will be able to protect their unique creations and ideas from competitors. There are four major ways a small business can obtain legal protection for intellectual property (IP).