Myth If I Get A Patent My Invention is Safe from Infringing on Other Patents

What Is Infringement

Infringing someone’s patents can be very damaging to a business. It is illegal, can lead to litigation, and steep monetary penalties. If you set out to attain a patent, you most likely are aware of this and have chosen to protect your invention and yourself from liabilities that could follow otherwise. One thing, however, to keep in mind when seeking a patent or after attaining a patent is that your issued patent is a specific document that protects on a certain set of matters. It will not clear you or your business from all liability attached to your product regarding infringement of another creator’s work. There are both direct and indirect matters we recommend you factor into your intellectual property strategy.

Let’s recap, infringement is the use of another entities protected invention without permission of that entity. While this is straight forward enough to seem simple, in the real world the complexities of patent infringement can be complicated and confusing.

Most people think of infringement as “direct infringement” which is use of the patent holder’s product without permission. If you make “Widget A” marked with patented on it and I start making and selling “Widget A” without your consent. However, other forms of infringement are just as destructive. For example, a patent may provide broader coverage than a specific embodiment of an invention and may cover a variety of different variations of an invention. In another example, indirect infringement is a case where you do not infringe on another patent, but you aided or enticed the infringement in some way.

Someone who may be liable for indirect infringement could be a distributor, for instance, who is selling a device that directly violates another entity’s intellectual property (IP).

Let’s look at another common example of how an entity with a patent may violate someone else’s patent. Many inventors may feel that they are clear from infringing a patent when they file a patent on improvements to an existing product. Whether or not the patent is allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a product that at its core is built on an existing product and then improves on that existing product may be infringing the original product.

In determining infringement, a court may consider the use case of an invention, differentiation factors between products, and other factors to help determine to whom which patent rights are owned. This is another reason patent searches and other analysis performed by both you and your attorney are integral parts of your application process.

It is also important as your business grows and changes that you do not make alterations outside of your patent that would lead your company to infringe on existing patents. As mentioned above, your patent is for a very specific set of features and uses. Adding features to or changing the design of a product may affect how a court will view your current product as well as your competitors. This is not to say that you should avoid making improvements to stay competitive, this is just a reminder to be careful and strategic of your business. Remember some of the alterations you may have made yourself were differentiators from existing products, so it is important you continue making those considerations as you release future iterations of your product.

Finally, another place to pay close attention to regarding patent infringement is your product distribution chain. On one side, your patent may use a part in manufacturing that is protected by someone in your supply chain. Without that entity’s permission, your product may infringe the manufacture’s patent. In simpler words, yes, you can infringe the patents of a manufacturer or supplier you have been purchasing your product from. Even if it sounds like ridiculous, it has happened before. To avoid this issue, it is worth ensuring any agreements with a manufacturer or supplier includes the ability to utilize their patents in the manufacturing of your products from them and/or the purchase of any products from them.

While this article is not a comprehensive coverage of all potential dangers to navigate as a business, these are some of the danger that you should consider. If a company sends you a Cease and Desist letter or any other claims that you are infringing on their intellectual property, whether or not you feel that you are infringing their IP, reach out to an patent litigation attorney to understand the potential issues and dangers associated with the letter. Feel free to check out our litigation services that range from flat fees to hourly rates. If you do not have a patent but would like to find out how you can protect your inventions, please reach out and schedule a free strategy session with us so we can help protect and grow your business.

Miller IP Law is a firm that focuses on small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs/solopreneurs. We’re easy to use. We offer affordable pricing that’s transparent and flat-rate. We focus on the little guys who actually need our help. If you’d like an attorney on your team, simply schedule a Zoom call, and we’ll take care of the rest.

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