Intellectual Property and Financing Strategies for Technology Startups

This book offers a comprehensive, easy to understand guide for startup entities and developing companies, providing insight on the various sources of funding that are available, how these funding sources are useful at each stage of a company's development, and offers a comprehensive intellectual property strategy that parallels each stage of development. The IP strategies offered in this book take into consideration the goals that most startups and companies have at each stage of development, as well as the limitations that exist at each stage (i.e., limited available resources earmarked for intellectual property asset development), and provides solutions that startups and companies can implement to maximize their return on intellectual property investments. This book also includes a number of descriptive examples, case studies and scenarios to illustrate the topics discussed, and is intended for use by startups and companies across all industries. Readers will garner an appreciation for the value that intellectual property rights provide to a startup entity or company and will gain an understanding of the types of intellectual property rights that are available to companies and how to procure, utilize and monetize those intellectual property rights to help their company grow.

Introduction.- Part I: Startup Funding Sources, Stages of the Life Cycle of a Business, and The Corresponding Intellectual Property Strategies for Each Stage.- Sources of Company Funding.- Early Stage Strategy.- Growth and Expansion Stage.- Mature, Exit and Rebirth Stage.- Achieving Success Stage.- Part II: Overview of Intellectual Property Rights for Startups.- Trademarks and Trade Dress.- Domain Names.- Patents.- Trade Secrets.- Copyrights.- Intellectual Property Issues in Labeling and Marketing.- Enforcement and Infringement of Intellectual Property Rights.- Part III: Implementation of IP Strategies for Startups.- Successful Implementation of a Startup's IP Strategy.- Developing and Managing an Intellectual Property Portfolio.- Valuing Startup Companies.- Licensing of Intellectual Property Rights for Startups.- Startup Tips for Avoiding and Preventing Intellectual Property Problems.- Appendices.