News and Publications

“Patent Freedom-to-Operate Assessments,” (MSBA Bar Bulletin, March 2017)

The process of investigating whether a new product may infringe the patent rights of others is called a Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) assessment or “patent clearance.” Conducting this assessment helps a business to make informed decisions about what products to pursue and how seriously to invest in their development.

“Protecting Your IP when Collaborating,” (MSBA Bar Bulletin, March 2016)

Collaborations often involve the exchange of proprietary intellectual property (“IP”) among the participants. Several tools can help protect your IP in this situation, including non-disclosure agreements, good invention recordkeeping practices, patent application filings and Joint IP agreements.