Blogs

Managing Transitive Dependencies Without Surprises

Managing Transitive Dependencies Without Surprises

Hidden dependencies cause compliance risk. Learn how to track and manage transitive dependencies safely.

Container Compliance: Images, Layers, and License Scan Tips

Container Compliance: Images, Layers, and License Scan Tips

Using Docker or containers? Learn how to scan images, layers, and licenses without slowing your team down.

Third-Party Notices: How to Build a Clean NOTICE File

Third-Party Notices: How to Build a Clean NOTICE File

Learn how to build a clean NOTICE file, track attributions, and stay compliant with third-party licenses.

Software Composition Analysis (SCA): Tools and Setup

Software Composition Analysis (SCA): Tools and Setup

A startup-friendly guide to SCA tools, setup tips, and how to track open-source risk automatically.

SBOM for Startups: Generate, Publish, and Stay Compliant

SBOM for Startups: Generate, Publish, and Stay Compliant

Learn how startups can generate and publish an SBOM to meet compliance needs and speed up enterprise sales.

License Compatibility Made Simple: A Quick Startup Guide

License Compatibility Made Simple: A Quick Startup Guide

License compatibility doesn’t have to be scary. Learn how licenses interact and avoid conflicts in your codebase.

Choosing a License for Your SDK, API, or Library

Choosing a License for Your SDK, API, or Library

Picking a license for your SDK or API? Learn best practices to protect your IP while encouraging adoption

Apache 2.0 Patent Clause: What Founders Must Know

Apache 2.0 Patent Clause: What Founders Must Know

The Apache 2.0 patent clause explained for founders. Learn how it protects users and what it means for your IP.

AGPL in SaaS: Risks, Duties, and Safe Alternatives

AGPL in SaaS: Risks, Duties, and Safe Alternatives

Using AGPL in SaaS? Understand the risks, compliance duties, and safer license alternatives for startups.

Dual-Licensing Basics: How It Works and Why Startups Use It

Dual-Licensing Basics: How It Works and Why Startups Use It

Learn how dual-licensing works, why startups use it, and how it helps balance open source growth with revenue.

Copyleft Explained: GPL, LGPL, AGPL in Plain English

Copyleft Explained: GPL, LGPL, AGPL in Plain English

Confused by copyleft? This guide explains GPL, LGPL, and AGPL in simple terms so startups can avoid surprises.

MIT vs Apache 2.0 vs GPL: Which License Fits Your Product

MIT vs Apache 2.0 vs GPL: Which License Fits Your Product

Compare MIT, Apache 2.0, and GPL licenses in plain English. Learn which open-source license fits your startup’s product and goals.

Open-Source Compliance 101 for Startups

Open-Source Compliance 101 for Startups

A simple guide to open-source compliance for startups. Learn the basics, avoid legal risks, and ship faster with confidence.

FRAND Negotiation Templates: Email, Agenda, and Data Pack Checklist

FRAND Negotiation Templates: Email, Agenda, and Data Pack Checklist

Get simple templates to speed up FRAND talks with clear emails, agendas, and data packs that show willingness.

Monitoring Standards Evolution: Keeping SEPs Current

Monitoring Standards Evolution: Keeping SEPs Current

Learn how tracking standard updates protects SEP value, essentiality status, and future licensing power.

Nationwide vs Worldwide Licenses: Picking the Right Scope

Nationwide vs Worldwide Licenses: Picking the Right Scope

Understand when to choose national or global SEP licenses based on litigation risk, market reach, and enforcement.

Renewals and Portfolio Hygiene for SEP Owners

Renewals and Portfolio Hygiene for SEP Owners

Learn how renewals and portfolio cleanup boost SEP strength, reduce cost, and improve licensing outcomes.

Standard Setting Orgs (3GPP, IEEE, ETSI): What Their Policies Require

Standard Setting Orgs (3GPP, IEEE, ETSI): What Their Policies Require

Clear overview of major SDO policies, disclosure rules, and how they shape SEP licensing and obligations.

NPEs in the SEP Space: Risk Management for Implementers

NPEs in the SEP Space: Risk Management for Implementers

Learn how NPEs use SEPs and how implementers can reduce risk with smart negotiation and technical defenses.

Compliance Programs for SEP Users: Record-Keeping That Saves You

Compliance Programs for SEP Users: Record-Keeping That Saves You

Discover how strong SEP compliance and documentation reduce legal risk and help prove willingness in FRAND disputes.

Arbitration vs Court for FRAND Disputes: Pros and Cons

Arbitration vs Court for FRAND Disputes: Pros and Cons

Compare arbitration and litigation for FRAND cases to choose the best path for speed, cost, and enforceability.

Antitrust & Competition Law Risks in SEP Licensing

Antitrust & Competition Law Risks in SEP Licensing

A simple guide to antitrust risks in SEP licensing and how to avoid conduct that triggers regulatory scrutiny.

Challenging SEP Essentiality: Technical and Legal Paths

Challenging SEP Essentiality: Technical and Legal Paths

Learn how implementers challenge SEP essentiality with technical analysis, claim charts, and legal strategies.

Royalty Stacking: How to Prevent Rates from Blowing Up

Royalty Stacking: How to Prevent Rates from Blowing Up

Understand royalty stacking risks and practical tools to keep total SEP costs fair, predictable, and FRAND-compliant.

Essentiality Checks and Audits: Building a Defensible Position

Essentiality Checks and Audits: Building a Defensible Position

See how essentiality checks and audits work and why they strengthen portfolios, licensing, and negotiation credibility.

Automotive & IoT SEP Licensing: Special Issues and Tactics

Automotive & IoT SEP Licensing: Special Issues and Tactics

Explore key SEP challenges in cars and IoT devices and how suppliers, OEMs, and startups can negotiate smarter.

Small Implementer Guide: FRAND for Startups and SMEs

Small Implementer Guide: FRAND for Startups and SMEs

Simple guide for startups on navigating SEPs, avoiding overpayment, and securing fair FRAND terms without legal stress.

NDAs, Term Sheets, and Most-Favored-Nation in FRAND Deals

NDAs, Term Sheets, and Most-Favored-Nation in FRAND Deals

Learn how NDAs, term sheets, and MFN clauses shape FRAND negotiations and protect long-term licensing positions.

Willing Licensor vs Willing Licensee: Good-Faith Negotiation Playbook

Willing Licensor vs Willing Licensee: Good-Faith Negotiation Playbook

A practical guide to proving willingness under FRAND—offers, timelines, deal behavior, and negotiation best practices.

Injunctions and SEPs: When Courts Say Yes or No

Injunctions and SEPs: When Courts Say Yes or No

Understand when courts grant injunctions in SEP cases and how FRAND duties influence remedies and negotiation leverage.

Global SEP Strategy: US, EU, China, UK Compared

Global SEP Strategy: US, EU, China, UK Compared

Compare SEP laws and trends across major regions to build a global strategy for licensing, litigation, and compliance.

Patent Pools 101: Avanci, MPEG LA, and When to Join

Patent Pools 101: Avanci, MPEG LA, and When to Join

See how patent pools work, who runs them, and when joining boosts revenue, reduces disputes, and simplifies licensing.

Portfolio Valuation for SEP Negotiations

Portfolio Valuation for SEP Negotiations

Learn how to value SEP portfolios using essentiality, strength, and market impact to guide better licensing decisions.

Component vs End-Product Licensing: Who Should Pay?

Component vs End-Product Licensing: Who Should Pay?

Understand the component vs device-level licensing debate and how courts and standards groups shape responsibility.

SEP Licensing for 5G, Wi-Fi, and Video Codecs

SEP Licensing for 5G, Wi-Fi, and Video Codecs

A clear overview of SEP licensing in 5G, Wi-Fi, and codecs—key players, royalty trends, and challenges implementers face.

Top-Down vs Bottom-Up FRAND: Which Method Fits Your Case

Top-Down vs Bottom-Up FRAND: Which Method Fits Your Case

Compare top-down and bottom-up FRAND approaches to find the right valuation path for your SEP dispute or negotiation.

Comparable Licenses: Using Market Data to Set FRAND

Comparable Licenses: Using Market Data to Set FRAND

Learn how comparable license analysis works, what makes data reliable, and how it shapes FRAND rate calculations.

How to Calculate a FRAND Royalty Rate

How to Calculate a FRAND Royalty Rate

Explore core methods for setting FRAND royalty rates using economic data, essentiality, and comparable licensing benchmarks.

Claim Charts for SEPs: Step-by-Step Essentiality Mapping

Claim Charts for SEPs: Step-by-Step Essentiality Mapping

A practical guide to building SEP claim charts that prove essentiality and strengthen licensing, negotiation, and litigation outcomes.

Declaring SEPs to SDOs: Rules, Timing, and Pitfalls

Declaring SEPs to SDOs: Rules, Timing, and Pitfalls

Learn when and how to declare SEPs to SDOs, common mistakes to avoid, and why proper timing protects your licensing rights.

How a Patent Becomes “Essential” to a Standard

How a Patent Becomes “Essential” to a Standard

See how patents are judged essential, what standards require, and why essentiality drives licensing value and legal risk.

FRAND Basics: Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory in Plain English

FRAND Basics: Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory in Plain English

Understand FRAND terms in simple language—what they mean, why they exist, and how they impact SEP licensing and negotiations.

SEPs Explained: What “Standard-Essential” Really Means

SEPs Explained: What “Standard-Essential” Really Means

Clear guide to what Standard-Essential Patents are, why they matter, and how they shape tech licensing, compliance, and innovation.

Deal-Ready IP Playbook: 30-Day Plan to Pass Diligence

Deal-Ready IP Playbook: 30-Day Plan to Pass Diligence

Get deal-ready in 30 days. A simple, fast IP playbook to clean up ownership, patents, contracts, and risks before diligence.

Valuing IP in a Term Sheet: Methods That Hold Up

Valuing IP in a Term Sheet: Methods That Hold Up

Show real IP value. Learn simple valuation methods buyers trust so you negotiate stronger term sheets.

Red Flags That Kill Deals: A Practical Shortlist

Red Flags That Kill Deals: A Practical Shortlist

Spot deal killers early. A fast list of IP red flags that scare buyers—and how to fix them before diligence begins.

Post-Close Integration: IP Recordation, Re-Papering, and Notices

Post-Close Integration: IP Recordation, Re-Papering, and Notices

Smooth post-close steps. Learn the key IP tasks after a deal—recordation, re-papering, and required notices.

Cap Table Meets IP: Equity, Vesting, and Assignment Timing

Cap Table Meets IP: Equity, Vesting, and Assignment Timing

Align equity and IP. Learn how vesting, founder exits, and assignment timing impact ownership and deal value.

Export Controls & Sanctions: IP Transfers Without Violations

Export Controls & Sanctions: IP Transfers Without Violations

Avoid IP transfer risks. A simple guide to export controls so you keep deals moving without compliance missteps.

AI Patent Drafting for In-House Counsels and University Tech Transfer Offices: An Overview

AI Patent Drafting for In-House Counsels and University Tech Transfer Offices: An Overview

AI tools help counsel and TTO teams draft patents faster with fewer mistakes. Learn how modern workflows boost quality, speed, and control.

Data & Privacy IP: Ownership of Datasets and Model Weights

Data & Privacy IP: Ownership of Datasets and Model Weights

Prove you own your data. Learn how to show clean ownership of datasets, model weights, and training pipelines.

Brand Conflicts: Clearance and Coexistence Agreements That Pass Diligence

Brand Conflicts: Clearance and Coexistence Agreements That Pass Diligence

Clear brand risks early. Learn how to handle conflicts and agreements so your trademarks pass diligence cleanly.

Patent Analytics for Diligence: Strength, Citations, and Family Trees

Patent Analytics for Diligence: Strength, Citations, and Family Trees

Make your patents shine. Learn how analytics like citations and families help buyers see the real strength of your portfolio.

Continuations, Divisionals, and CIPs: Strategy Signals for Buyers

Continuations, Divisionals, and CIPs: Strategy Signals for Buyers

Show smart patent strategy. Learn how continuation filings signal strength and future value to buyers and investors.

Prior Art and Invalidity Exposure: Fast Triage Before the Deal

Prior Art and Invalidity Exposure: Fast Triage Before the Deal

Reduce invalidity risk fast. A quick guide to checking prior art exposure so your patents hold up in diligence.

Source Code Escrow and Audit Rights: When Investors Ask

Source Code Escrow and Audit Rights: When Investors Ask

Prepare for tough asks. Learn why buyers request escrow or audit rights and how to respond without slowing the deal.

Representations & Warranties: IP Clauses You Must Get Right

Representations & Warranties: IP Clauses You Must Get Right

Protect yourself at signing. Learn the key IP reps and warranties buyers expect—and how to avoid deal-killing risk.

University and Government Funding: Bayh-Dole and March-In Risks

University and Government Funding: Bayh-Dole and March-In Risks

Avoid funding surprises. Learn how Bayh-Dole rules affect your IP rights and what investors check in diligence.

Customer and Supplier Contracts: IP Ownership and Indemnities

Customer and Supplier Contracts: IP Ownership and Indemnities

Clean up contracts fast. Learn how to fix IP ownership, indemnities, and rights in commercial deals before diligence starts.

Field-of-Use and Exclusivity Clauses: Hidden Value or Handcuffs?

Field-of-Use and Exclusivity Clauses: Hidden Value or Handcuffs?

Spot contract traps. Understand how exclusivity and field-of-use clauses impact valuation and negotiating power.

International Filings and PCT: Status, Deadlines, and Gaps

International Filings and PCT: Status, Deadlines, and Gaps

Stay globally protected. Learn how to manage PCT and foreign filings so your international rights stay strong for deals.

Maintenance Fees and Annuities: No Lapses, No Surprises

Maintenance Fees and Annuities: No Lapses, No Surprises

Avoid costly lapses. Learn how to track patent maintenance and annuities so buyers see a healthy, active portfolio.

Invention Disclosure to Filing: Proving Timely Protection

Invention Disclosure to Filing: Proving Timely Protection

Show strong process. Learn how timely disclosures and filings prove you protect innovation and reduce deal risk.

Trade Secrets: Policies, Access Controls, and Evidence of Secrecy

Trade Secrets: Policies, Access Controls, and Evidence of Secrecy

Protect your secrets. Learn what buyers look for in trade secret controls and how to prove your IP is truly safeguarded.

Trademark, Domain, and Brand Rights: Are They Deal-Ready?

Trademark, Domain, and Brand Rights: Are They Deal-Ready?

Make your brand investable. Check trademarks, domains, and conflicts so buyers see a clean, protected, and valuable identity.

Pending Litigation, Oppositions, and PTAB: Disclose the Landmines

Pending Litigation, Oppositions, and PTAB: Disclose the Landmines

Own the narrative. Learn how to surface and explain IP disputes so they don’t derail deals, diligence, or investor confidence.

Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) for Deals: How to De-Risk Fast

Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) for Deals: How to De-Risk Fast

Cut infringement risk fast. A simple guide to rapid FTO checks that keep deals moving and protect your product roadmap.

Patent Portfolio Health Check: Quality, Scope, and Coverage

Patent Portfolio Health Check: Quality, Scope, and Coverage

Strengthen your patents. Learn how to evaluate scope, quality, and coverage so your portfolio boosts valuation in deals and fundraising.

Licenses, Liens, and Encumbrances: Clean Them Before Diligence

Licenses, Liens, and Encumbrances: Clean Them Before Diligence

Clear hidden IP blockers. See how to fix liens, licenses, and encumbrances early so they don’t slow deals or scare investors.

Open-Source Software (OSS) Risks: What VCs Flag Fast

Open-Source Software (OSS) Risks: What VCs Flag Fast

Avoid OSS pitfalls. Learn which open-source risks investors spot instantly—and how to keep your codebase safe, clean, and deal-ready.

Founder, Employee, Contractor IP Assignments: Fix the Gaps

Founder, Employee, Contractor IP Assignments: Fix the Gaps

Lock down ownership. See how to clean up missing IP assignments from founders, employees, and contractors before diligence exposes risks.

Chain of Title: Proving You Really Own the IP

Chain of Title: Proving You Really Own the IP

Show clear IP ownership. Learn how to fix chain-of-title gaps so your patents and code stand strong in deals, funding, or acquisitions.

Building the Perfect IP Data Room: A Complete Checklist

Building the Perfect IP Data Room: A Complete Checklist

Make diligence easy. Follow this simple IP data room checklist to organize patents, contracts, and rights so buyers gain confidence fast.

IPO/M&A IP Due Diligence: What Buyers Actually Check

IPO/M&A IP Due Diligence: What Buyers Actually Check

Get deal-ready fast. Learn what buyers really inspect in IP due diligence so you can avoid surprises and protect valuation during IPOs or acquisitions.

Post-Grant Playbook: 12-Month Plan to Cut Costs and Keep Strength

Post-Grant Playbook: 12-Month Plan to Cut Costs and Keep Strength

A simple 12-month post-grant plan to cut patent costs, strengthen coverage, and avoid renewal mistakes.

Selling or Donating Patents You Won’t Renew: How to Do It Right

Selling or Donating Patents You Won’t Renew: How to Do It Right

If you won’t renew a patent, learn how to sell or donate it safely and get value before it lapses.

License Terms and Renewals: Align Fees with Revenue

License Terms and Renewals: Align Fees with Revenue

Align patent renewal decisions with license revenue. Learn how to avoid overpaying on patents that don’t earn.

PCT vs National Renewals: What Still Needs Paying

PCT vs National Renewals: What Still Needs Paying

Understand what renewals still apply after a PCT filing and how national-phase rules impact long-term costs.

Design Patents: Renewal Rules and Common Mistakes

Design Patents: Renewal Rules and Common Mistakes

Learn the renewal rules for design patents and the common mistakes founders make when managing their IP.

China, Japan, Korea Annuities: Local Rules You Must Know

China, Japan, Korea Annuities: Local Rules You Must Know

Understand key annuity rules in China, Japan, and Korea so you avoid late fees, surprises, and lost rights.

EPO Renewals vs USPTO Maintenance: Key Differences

EPO Renewals vs USPTO Maintenance: Key Differences

A simple comparison of EPO renewals vs USPTO maintenance fees. Know the rules, timing, and costs for each system.

Automating Reminders: Never Miss a Maintenance Date

Automating Reminders: Never Miss a Maintenance Date

Learn how to automate patent maintenance reminders so your team never misses a USPTO or global renewal deadline again.

Dashboards for Post-Grant Teams: What to Track Weekly

Dashboards for Post-Grant Teams: What to Track Weekly

See what metrics post-grant teams should track weekly to stay ahead of renewals, costs, deadlines, and risk.

Renewal KPIs: Cost per Active Claim, Country ROI, Coverage Gaps

Renewal KPIs: Cost per Active Claim, Country ROI, Coverage Gaps

Track the right patent renewal KPIs—cost per claim, ROI by country, and coverage gaps—to cut waste and stay protected.

Litigation Risk Check: Don’t Abandon a Valuable Asset

Litigation Risk Check: Don’t Abandon a Valuable Asset

Check litigation risk before dropping a patent. Learn how to spot assets worth keeping and avoid losing leverage.

Competitive Watch: Drop, Narrow, or Double-Down?

Competitive Watch: Drop, Narrow, or Double-Down?

Use competitive insights to decide whether to drop patents, narrow claims, or double-down on protection with confidence.

Quality Review: Are Claims Still Aligned to Current Products?

Quality Review: Are Claims Still Aligned to Current Products?

Review patent claims to ensure they still match what your product does today. Spot gaps, overlaps, and chances to improve.

Ownership Changes: Recordation Steps After M&A or Licensing

Ownership Changes: Recordation Steps After M&A or Licensing

A simple guide to recording ownership changes after M&A or licensing. Keep USPTO records clean and avoid renewal issues.

Post-Grant Amendments: Certificate of Correction Basics

Post-Grant Amendments: Certificate of Correction Basics

Learn when to file a Certificate of Correction after grant and how to fix errors fast so your patent stays strong.

IDS and Post-Grant: Do You Still Need to File Anything?

IDS and Post-Grant: Do You Still Need to File Anything?

A clear guide to IDS duties after grant. Learn what still needs filing, what doesn’t, and how to stay compliant.

Family Mapping: Avoid Paying Twice for the Same Coverage

Family Mapping: Avoid Paying Twice for the Same Coverage

Learn how to map patent families so you don’t pay twice for overlapping filings. A simple guide for founders managing global IP.

Data Hygiene: Fix Assignees, Status, and Priority Chains

Data Hygiene: Fix Assignees, Status, and Priority Chains

Clean up patent data the easy way. Fix assignees, statuses, and priority chains so your renewals and filings stay error-free.

Cost Forecasting: Plan Maintenance and Annuities for 5–10 Years

Cost Forecasting: Plan Maintenance and Annuities for 5–10 Years

Forecast patent costs for the next 5–10 years with simple models for maintenance fees, annuities, and global renewal planning.

Patent Pruning: A Simple Framework for Keep vs Drop

Patent Pruning: A Simple Framework for Keep vs Drop

Use a clear keep-or-drop framework to prune your patent portfolio, reduce costs, and focus only on IP that drives real value.

Portfolio Audits: Find Dead Weight and Hidden Gems

Portfolio Audits: Find Dead Weight and Hidden Gems

Run a smart patent portfolio audit to uncover dead weight, hidden value, and areas to cut or strengthen. A simple framework for founders.

Currency, FX, and Taxes: Hidden Costs in Annuities

Currency, FX, and Taxes: Hidden Costs in Annuities

Learn how currency swings, FX fees, and taxes affect global patent annuity costs—and how to budget smarter across countries.

Annuity Payment Providers: Build vs Buy vs Hybrid

Annuity Payment Providers: Build vs Buy vs Hybrid

Compare building your own annuity system vs buying a provider vs a hybrid model. Learn what saves time, money, and risk.

Global Annuities 101: How They Differ by Country

Global Annuities 101: How They Differ by Country

A simple guide to global patent annuities. Understand key country differences, costs, and timelines so your team avoids surprises.

When to Let a Patent Lapse: Business Rules That Work

When to Let a Patent Lapse: Business Rules That Work

Not every patent is worth renewing. Learn smart rules for when to let a patent lapse and how to cut costs without losing key protection.

Missed a Maintenance Fee? Grace Periods and Surcharges

Missed a Maintenance Fee? Grace Periods and Surcharges

Missed a USPTO maintenance fee? Learn your grace period, surcharges, and how to restore a patent before rights expire for good.

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