How robotics startups can avoid costly IP mistakes

The article emphasizes the critical importance of intellectual property (IP) management for robotics startups, highlighting that strong IP protection can safeguard innovations, deter competitors, and attract investment. Robotics companies operate at the intersection of hardware, software, AI, and data, making a comprehensive IP strategy essential. Key forms of protection include patents, which guard core technologies and incremental improvements; trade secrets, especially for algorithms and manufacturing know-how; trademarks for brand identity; and copyrights for software. A well-rounded approach integrating these protections can differentiate startups that successfully scale. For software-based innovations, particularly AI-driven robotics, the article advises combining patents, trade secrets, and copyrights to cover unique technical solutions and code. Startups must avoid common pitfalls such as public disclosure before filing patents, neglecting incremental improvements, failing to secure IP ownership from contractors, and undervaluing trade secrets. Conducting freedom-to-operate analyses and patent landscape reviews helps avoid infringement on patents held by established companies and identifies innovation opportunities. Finally, an international patent strategy