Patent Strategy — Free Resources

IP isn't magic.
It's learnable.

Most founders and in-house teams treat patents as something attorneys handle. The ones who use IP as a competitive advantage understand it themselves. These guides are for them.

Written for founders and practitioners No law degree required Always free
▶
New to patent strategy?

Start here: most people think having a patent means they're protected. The reality is more complicated, and more interesting.

Start with the flagship guide → Or book a call with the founder →
Flagship Guide   Portfolio Strategy
Why One Patent Is Not a Strategy
Filing a patent is the beginning, not the finish line. Most companies stop at one filing and assume they're covered. The companies that use IP as a real competitive advantage think about it very differently — and this guide shows you how.
12 min read Portfolio Strategy
Read the guide →

IP Fundamentals

3 articles
IP Fundamentals
How to Read a Patent Claim (Without a Law Degree)
Claims define what a patent actually protects — not the invention description, not the drawings. Learn to read them and you'll understand what you own (and what you don't).
8 min read Coming soon
IP Fundamentals
What Prosecution History Actually Tells You
Every claim amendment made during the patent process becomes a permanent ceiling on your scope. Here's what to look for and why it matters for enforcement and licensing.
10 min read Coming soon
IP Fundamentals
Independent vs. Dependent Claims: Why the Hierarchy Matters
Dependent claims aren't just variations — they're your fallback when broad claims get challenged. Understanding the structure tells you how defensible your patent really is.
6 min read Coming soon

Portfolio Strategy

4 articles
Portfolio Strategy
Why One Patent Is Not a Strategy
A single patent is a single point of failure. How big players build overlapping claim coverage — and how small companies can do the same thing on a startup budget.
12 min read
Free→
Portfolio Strategy
Continuation Strategy: How to Build a Patent Family
Continuation applications let you file new claims on the same invention years after your original filing. Used well, they're one of the most powerful tools in patent strategy.
11 min read Coming soon
Portfolio Strategy
Forward Citations: The Metric That Tells You If Your Patent Matters
When competitors cite your patent in their own filings, they're telling you exactly where the technology is going. Most patent owners never look at this data.
7 min read Coming soon
Portfolio Strategy
Intangible Assets: The Invisible Balance Sheet
For the S&P 500, intangible assets represent over 90% of market value. For most startups, that number is zero — not because they don't have IP, but because they haven't built it intentionally.
9 min read Coming soon

M&A & Investors

3 articles
M&A & Investors
What Acquirers Actually Pay For: IP in M&A
In most technology acquisitions, buyers are paying for the IP — not the team, not the product. Understanding what acquirers look for changes how you should build your portfolio from day one.
10 min read Coming soon
M&A & Investors
IP Due Diligence: What Buyers Look for in Your Portfolio
The red flags that kill deals or slash valuations — and the signals that make your IP a premium asset. A founder's guide to IP due diligence before it happens to you.
8 min read Coming soon
M&A & Investors
How to Present Your IP to Investors
Most founders describe their patents in pitch decks without knowing what investors actually want to hear. The right framing can shift IP from a footnote to a valuation driver.
6 min read Coming soon

Working with Attorneys

2 articles
Working with Attorneys
How to Be a Better Patent Client (And Save Money)
The most expensive part of working with a patent attorney is teaching them your technology from scratch. The clients who get the best outcomes come prepared. Here's what that looks like.
7 min read Coming soon
Working with Attorneys
What to Ask Your Patent Attorney That They Won't Tell You
There are questions about claim scope, prosecution strategy, and portfolio risk that most inventors never think to ask. This is the list.
8 min read Coming soon

PTAB & Enforcement

2 articles
PTAB & Enforcement
How to Tell If Your Patent Is Vulnerable to an IPR Challenge
IPR petitions invalidate patents at a 60%+ institution rate. The signals are visible in advance — in the claim structure, prosecution history, and prior art landscape. Here's what to look for.
9 min read Coming soon
PTAB & Enforcement
The Enforceability Spectrum: What Makes a Patent Defensible
Not all issued patents are equal. Broad claims, clean prosecution history, and a family of related applications all contribute to a patent that holds up under pressure.
8 min read Coming soon

Reading is one thing. Seeing it in your own patent is another.

Run your patent through PatentSignal and see your claim structure, prosecution history, prior art exposure, and continuation opportunities — applied to what you actually own.

Analyze Your Patent Free → No credit card · 1 patent free forever