Frequently Asked Questions

It is a commercialization approach in which the inventor's company sets a realistic business strategy for its industry before going to market, and then seeks a suitable, intrigued and committed major partner when the project is ready, rather than building a startup mainly to be acquired.

Startup-to-exit aims to make a company attractive for a takeover, often after several funding rounds. Pre-partnering approaches major players as potential partners from the start and focuses on bringing the product to market together on fair terms, which can reduce capital needs and dilution.

No. If you are confident in your market, have the resources, and are not threatened by IP piracy or infringement, going to market alone or with an investor can make good sense. Pre-partnering is strongest when a few major companies control the route to market.

A good major partner is suitable (it can manufacture, distribute and support the product), intrigued (the invention fits its strategy and solves a problem it cares about) and committed (it is willing to invest and share the results fairly).

Not necessarily. Many partnership discussions begin while an application is pending. What matters is that disclosures are planned, filings are made before public disclosure, and confidential details are shared only under an NDA. Ask your patent attorney or agent about timing.

Passed by the Venetian Senate on 19 March 1474, it is widely regarded as the first general patent law. It protected new and ingenious devices, once reduced to working practice, from copying for ten years, in exchange for bringing useful inventions to Venice.

Under the America Invents Act, the United States moved to a first-inventor-to-file system for applications with an effective filing date on or after March 16, 2013. In general, the inventor who files first has priority, so early filing and careful disclosure timing are important.

A US provisional application establishes an early filing date at lower cost and is not examined. You must file a nonprovisional application, and usually any international applications, within 12 months to claim the provisional's filing date.

In the United States and most countries, a utility patent generally lasts up to 20 years from the filing date of the earliest nonprovisional application, subject to paying maintenance or renewal fees. Some adjustments and exceptions apply.

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board is a USPTO tribunal created by the America Invents Act. Since September 16, 2012, it has heard post-grant challenges such as inter partes review, which allow third parties to challenge issued patents. In our view, independent inventors should plan for this possibility when valuing and defending a patent.

No. Our services focus on strategy, industry analysis and partner preparation. We do not draft or file patent applications or give legal opinions. For those tasks, please work with a registered patent attorney or agent.

After you order or contact us, we email you to propose meeting times and, if needed, a short questionnaire. Meetings take place online and are coordinated in Israel time, with slots that can suit North America, Europe and elsewhere.

After purchase, you receive a download link for the guidebook or template kit. The templates are educational and should be reviewed by a qualified attorney before use.

No. No one can honestly guarantee those outcomes, because they depend on patent offices, companies, investors and markets. Our aim is to help you prepare well and make informed decisions.

Please describe it only in general, non-confidential terms. Do not send technical details, drawings or unpublished application text before a non-disclosure agreement is in place.

Yes, where a confidential discussion is needed for the service you have requested, we agree on an appropriate non-disclosure agreement before you share confidential information.

We use it only to respond to you and to deliver the service you requested. You decide what is shared with any potential partner and when. See our privacy policy for details.