Marie-Avril Roux Steinkรผhler

17 juin 20211 Min

French Tech - Legal Tool Box #1

For this first Legal Toolbox, Marie-Avril Roux and Julian Waiblinger presented the 5-step IP protection strategy for startups.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Step 1: Know what you have

Define what kind of IP rights you can have.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Step 2: Know what you need

Do you have the rights you need?

  • Employees vs. freelancers

  • Publication of new technical inventions?

  • Sufficient protection of know-how? NDA?

Do you need to register your IP?

Patent/trademark/design: registration required

Trademarks: can the trademark be registered? Is it available?

  • Copyright: no registration

๐Ÿ‘‰ Step 3: Know your budget

  • Patent = deep pockets (think of utility models as an alternative)

  • Copyright = itโ€˜s for free!

  • Trademarks = concentrate on the most important countries (think of EUTMs and IRs)

๐Ÿ‘‰ Step 4: Know your timeline from the start

  • Patents: no protection if disclosed โ€“ protection for 20 years

  • Copyright: no registration โ€“ protection for 70 years p.m.a.

  • Trademarks: registration can take some time โ€“ protection for 10 years (unless renewed)

Plan well in advance!

๐Ÿ‘‰ Step 5: Know your IP like an investor

  • IP as a commercial tool

  • IP increases the value of your company

  • Be prepared for exits / due dilligences

We were pleased to welcome two start-ups:

๐Ÿ’ก Lehrermarktplatz, becoming Eduki, with Anna Kรถppen

๐Ÿ’ก Naki Power with Zaccaria Aghemio and Marvin Pottier.

Thanks for joining us ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ