# S2 E7: Intellectual Property Strategy for Hardware Startups with Troy Grabow

- Show: [The Builder Circle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle)
- Published: 2024-02-20
- Length: 1h 10m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2024-02-20-s2-e7-intellectual-property-strategy-for-hardware-startups-with-troy-grabow
- Listen: https://rss.com/podcasts/thebuildercircle/1353152

## Summary

Patent attorney Troy Grabow, founder of Grabow Law, explains IP strategy for hardware startups, distinguishing between patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights. He details the costs and timelines of patent prosecution, the risks of overseas manufacturing in China, and the critical importance of clear IP ownership agreements in co-development and supplier relationships. Grabow also emphasizes the need for rigorous employee IP education and proper inventorship documentation to avoid legal pitfalls.

## Outline

1. Introduction and Guest Background
2. Types of Intellectual Property and Protection
3. Patents vs. Trade Secrets Strategy
4. Patent Costs, Timelines, and Process
5. IP Risks in Overseas Manufacturing
6. Co-Development and Supplier Agreements
7. Employee IP Education and Pitfalls

## Topics

- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Grabow Law (company)
- Finnegan Henderson (company)
- Pax Labs (company)
- Juul Labs (company)
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (other)
- Coca Cola (product)
- Apple (company)
- Nike (company)
- Pepsi (company)
- The Social Network (product)
- Winklevoss twins (other)
- Mark Zuckerberg (other)
- Hardware Meetup (other)
- Google X (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Solidworks (company)
- Onshape (company)
- Pratik (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [207: 4 Parts of Intellectual Property for a Hardware Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-12-22-207-4-parts-of-intellectual-property-for-a-hardware-startup) (Product Startup)
- [289: Stamping HORSE on Zebras](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-05-30-289-stamping-horse-on-zebras) (Embedded.fm)
- [An Interview with Scott Miller - Sudden SinoAmerican Synthesis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-17-an-interview-with-scott-miller-sudden-sinoamerican-synthesis) (The Amp Hour)
- [6 Strategies to Get Your Product Developed](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-05-04-6-strategies-to-get-your-product-developed) (Predictable Designs Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2024-02-20-s2-e7-intellectual-property-strategy-for-hardware-startups-with-troy-grabow. 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 The Builder Circle.