Intellectual Property Strategies To Grow Your Business

<p>What exactly is intellectual property, and when should a founder start protecting it? </p><p></p><p>In this episode of the Pitch to Product Podcast, 52Launch's Steve Sisto sits down with McKendra Darbey, a registered patent attorney at Caldwell Law, to break down how startups should think about IP strategy from day one.</p><p></p><p>McKendra explains the difference between patents, copyrights, and trade secrets, what it means to "start the clock" on your one-year patent filing window, and why even small tweaks to existing products can qualify as patentable innovation. She also covers a timely question: Does workshopping your idea with an AI chatbot count as a public disclosure that starts that clock?</p><p></p><p>Topics covered include:</p><ul><li>What counts as intellectual property (and why it matters for founders)</li><li>The one-year clock: what starts it and why timing matters</li><li>Using AI tools to brainstorm without jeopardizing patent rights</li><li>Common founder mistakes and misconceptions about the patent process</li><li>IP as an offensive vs. defensive business asset</li><li>How to prioritize IP spend on a limited budget</li><li>What "patent pending" actually lets you do</li><li>Understanding "obviousness" in patent law</li><li>Balancing public excitement with protecting trade secrets before launch</li></ul><p></p><p>Whether you're pre-revenue or preparing for your next funding round, this conversation will help you think strategically about protecting what you build.</p><p></p><p>Join us for our Founder Office Hours on Wednesday, October 21: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/founder-office-hours-intellectual-property-and-product-development-tickets-2000187485613?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/founder-office-hours-intellectual-property-and-product-development-tickets-2000187485613?aff=oddtdtcreator</a></p><p></p><p>Connect with Caldwell Law here: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:maria@caldwell.com" target="_blank">maria@caldwell.com</a></p><p></p><p>Don't delay and start your journey with 52Launch today: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/BookCall52Launch" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/BookCall52Launch</a></p>