(29b) IP Considerations for Industrial Processes

There are many important considerations for protecting intellectual property for industrial process technology. Understanding the patent landscape for a given technology is critical for guiding an effective strategy for patenting. Thorough prior art searching is necessary for defining the novel aspects of a technology and understanding the scope available for patenting. This assessment can avoid writing patent applications disclosing technology more broadly than can be protected. It helps define claims sufficiently narrow to have a high probability of granting. This approach also provides indications of how likely it is that others will file patents for similar technology. This presentation will cover how these considerations lead to understanding of the potential value of a patent relative to other options for protecting IP for process technology.