# 71: Dirty Your Mindscape

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2014-10-08
- Length: 56m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-08-71-dirty-your-mindscape
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-ep71mp3

## Summary

Judith Szepesi, founding partner at HIPLegal, LLP, explains the strategic reasons for filing patents, distinguishing between using them as a 'sword' for enforcement, a 'shield' for defense, or a marketing tool. She details the patent application process, including the difference between provisional and utility filings, the 'first to file' rule, and the importance of prior art searches to ensure novelty and non-obviousness. The discussion covers the high costs of patent prosecution, the threat of patent trolls (Non-Practicing Entities), and strategies for startups to defend against litigation, such as joining defensive pools or seeking re-examination of questionable patents.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-08-71-dirty-your-mindscape#t=6) Introduction: Judith Szepesi and HIPLegal
- [1:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-08-71-dirty-your-mindscape#t=86) Strategic reasons for filing patents: Sword, Shield, and Marketing
- [3:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-08-71-dirty-your-mindscape#t=190) Novelty, non-obviousness, and the 'first to file' rule
- [8:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-08-71-dirty-your-mindscape#t=491) The patent application process: Provisional vs. Utility filings
- [13:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-08-71-dirty-your-mindscape#t=801) Costs of prosecution and the value of trade secrets
- [21:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-08-71-dirty-your-mindscape#t=1277) Enforcement, licensing, and the reality of patent litigation
- [26:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-08-71-dirty-your-mindscape#t=1562) Dealing with patent trolls and Non-Practicing Entities
- [35:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-08-71-dirty-your-mindscape#t=2138) Hiring patent attorneys and understanding software patents
- [44:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-08-71-dirty-your-mindscape#t=2680) Open source, trademarks, and HIPLegal's mission

## Topics

- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- HIPLegal (company)
- NOLO Press (other)
- Patent It Yourself (other)
- Ask Patents (other)
- Stack Exchange (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S1E06 First to file, secrecy, & fast-tracking patents | Tom Galvani](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-13-s1e06-first-to-file-secrecy-fast-tracking-patents-tom-galvani) (Being an Engineer)
- [229: Overview of Patenting for Hardware Startups](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-06-07-229-overview-of-patenting-for-hardware-startups) (Product Startup)
- [S4E36 Wes Schwie| Intellectual Property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-09-22-s4e36-wes-schwie-intellectual-property) (Being an Engineer)
- [#046 - When not to start a startup - how to license your idea (Part 2), with Stephen Key of inventRight, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2018-01-17-046-when-not-to-start-a-startup-how-to-license-your-idea-part-2-with-stephen-key) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [105: Patenting Physical Consumer Product Inventions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-12-08-105-patenting-physical-consumer-product-inventions) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-08-71-dirty-your-mindscape. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.