1. `FTO’ tips
(Image by Gerd Altmann on Pixabay)
Partner Arpita Bhattacharyya advised entrepreneurs to consider four things when conducting “freedom-to-operate” (FTO) patent searches.
- Do it early in product development. Bhattacharyya said it’s easier to design around a problematic patent, negotiate a license or challenge an existing patent before too much work has been done on a device.
- Be certain to conduct an FTO in every country you’d like to operate in.
- Remember to check pending patent applications.
- If you’re on a limited budget, start your search with key competitors. If you don’t find conflicts, then slowly expand the circle.
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