An Introduction to Patent Engineering

• Author: Donald S. Rimai
• Profession: Recently retired from Eastman Kodak, where he worked as a researcher and intellectual property manager in digital printing and adhesion science
• Pages: 1-15

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Patents have long been recognized as a vital tool in the business world.

Patents are designed to give the owner or assignee of the patent a monopo-

listic position in which to practice the technology described in the patent.

In years past, a few patents may have provided adequate protection.  at

is no longer the case. In today’s world, a solid patent portfolio that is the

result of engineering and executing a focused patent strategy is vital to

protect your business interests.

Moreover, patents should not be considered solely as defensive legal

documents. Rather, they should be considered part of the marketable prod-

uct stream emanating from your company. If the patent portfolio is good, it

can be worth billions of dollars. If it is poorly designed, it can simply be an

expense that divulges your technology to your competition.

It is the goal of this book to enable you to develop patent portfolios that

both protect your vital technology and have commercial value without bur-

dening your company with undue expenses. To begin this discussion, let us

consider your night immediately prior to your big product introduction.

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An Introduction to Patent

Engineering