article thumbnail

Sonos, Sound United Settle Patent Spat

socalTECH

Vista-based Sound United , the parent firm of audio brands Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, HEOS, Boston Acoustics and ClasseAudio, says it has settled all of the patent infringement litigation between the company and Santa Barbara-based Sonos.

Patents 113
article thumbnail

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Of Software Patents

Startup Professionals Musings

I always advise software startups to file patents to protect their “secret sauce” from competitors, and to increase their valuation. The good news is that a patent can scare off or at least delay competitors, and as a “rule of thumb” patents can add up to $1M to your startup valuation for investors or M&A exits (merger and acquisition).

Patents 100
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Hire for your core. Partner for the rest.

Berkonomics

By definition, your core is your intellectual property foundation, the thing that makes your business most valuable to customers, investors and perhaps someday to potential buyers of the business. Patents, branding, marketing and more. What is your core competency? There is much to reinforce in such behavior.

Patents 120
article thumbnail

Software Patents Have Become a Startup Nightmare

Startup Professionals Musings

I always advise software startups to file patents to protect their “secret sauce” from competitors, and to increase their valuation. This patent holding company has charged infringement and demanded royalties from every app developer for the iPhone and Android, for a feature most agree has been in apps for many years.

Patents 93
article thumbnail

Getting A Software Patent Is Valuable But Frustrating

Startup Professionals Musings

For a software startup, a patent can be the intellectual property providing the key competitive advantage, or it can be an expensive non-defensible bureaucratic nightmare -- or both. Some argue to simply eliminate software patents, while others put their hopes in U.S. Every business is global, but patent rules differ around the world.

Patents 53
article thumbnail

5 New Venture Mistakes That Can Cost You The Business

Startup Professionals Musings

I’m not suggesting that every startup needs a lawyer, but you should definitely pay attention, and not be afraid to consult legal counsel if any of these raise qualms for you. Disclosing inventions before the patent application is filed. Entrepreneurs often put off the hassle and the cost of filing a patent until first funding.

Patents 145
article thumbnail

Vizio Sued By MIT

socalTECH

Irvine-based HDTV maker Vizio has been sued in federal court by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , claiming that the electronics maker violated patents owned by MIT. MIT's suit said that the patents it created are being violated in nearly 150 Vizio models. According to the lawsuit, Massachusetts Institute of Technology v.

Patents 133