# 105: Patenting Physical Consumer Product Inventions

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2021-12-08
- Length: 35m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-12-08-105-patenting-physical-consumer-product-inventions
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/

## Summary

Rich Goldstein, founder of Goldstein Patent Law, explains the strategic differences between utility and design patents, emphasizing that utility patents protect functionality through specific claims while design patents protect aesthetics. He advises inventors to file provisional applications carefully, as the priority date is only as good as the written disclosure, and to use continuation and continuation-in-part applications to maintain pending status for future improvements. Goldstein highlights the importance of aligning patent claims with marketable features to create valuable IP that prevents competitors from copying core innovations.

## Chapters

- [0:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-12-08-105-patenting-physical-consumer-product-inventions#t=47) Introduction: Rich Goldstein and Goldstein Patent Law
- [3:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-12-08-105-patenting-physical-consumer-product-inventions#t=198) Utility vs. Design vs. Provisional Patents
- [8:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-12-08-105-patenting-physical-consumer-product-inventions#t=482) Broad vs. Narrow Claims and Marketability
- [18:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-12-08-105-patenting-physical-consumer-product-inventions#t=1129) Protecting Core Innovations and Avoiding Thin Patents
- [24:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-12-08-105-patenting-physical-consumer-product-inventions#t=1493) Timing: First-to-File and Public Disclosure Risks
- [28:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-12-08-105-patenting-physical-consumer-product-inventions#t=1717) Continuation and Continuation-in-Part Strategies

## Topics

- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Goldstein Patent Law (company)
- The ABA Consumer Guide to Obtaining a Patent (other)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)
- Kickstarter (other)
- Indiegogo (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)
- [71: Dirty Your Mindscape](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-08-71-dirty-your-mindscape) (Embedded.fm)
- [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)
- [How Medical Device Intellectual Property Protection Varies by Sector](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2022-03-09-how-medical-device-intellectual-property-protection-varies-by-sector) (Global Medical Device Podcast)

## Citing this page

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