A lot of inventors and business owners believe that once they file a patent, their work is done. But here’s the truth: filing is less than half the game.
The real power of intellectual property lies in strategy—understanding how to use your patents and trademarks to support your business goals, attract investors, create leverage, or carve out market space.
Patents are tools. Strategy is the blueprint. Without the latter, the former is often just paper.That’s something I’ve learned over years of hands-on experience—not just as a patent agent, but working inside and alongside businesses who live and breathe IP strategy.
- At Intel, I saw how a world-class company uses patents not just for protection, but as a tool for growth and negotiation.
- At GTT Group, a patent brokerage in Portland, I learned how portfolios are built to be impossible to design around.
- As a partner at a Portland firm, and later as the founder of my own IP law practice in Corvallis, I saw the difference real strategy makes—especially for small businesses and solo inventors.
I’ve picked up a long list of tactics and insights that aren’t in any book. For example, I’ve seen practitioners file ten versions of the same invention just to see which examiner offers the most favorable response—then go forward with the best one. I’ve helped design portfolios that create airtight protection, and I’ve used filings to keep competitors from locking down key market positions.
A patent without strategy is like a chess piece without a plan. It might look impressive, but it won’t win the game.These kinds of strategic decisions affect:
- Whether your patent is enforceable or just decorative
- Whether competitors can design around your idea
- Whether investors see value—or just cost
- Whether your patent is a shield, a sword, or just a trophy on the wall
That’s why I don’t just “do filings.” I help clients see the full landscape. We look at timing, intent, potential threats, future business goals, and how to make sure their filings actually serve them.
Careful, intentional strategy—applied early and refined often—is worth more than 10 rushed filings. And that’s what I offer every client: one-on-one, thoughtful service rooted in two decades of learning what works and what doesn’t.
See more real-world patent tips in Protect & Profit →