Posts by Vicki Strachan

Have you thought about how you’re going to stop your competitors from copying your new products or technology?  Or how you’re going to hold onto your market share as your company grows and develops? In the competitive world of tech startups, patents are often touted as a key differentiator—something that can elevate a fledgling or…

You’ve identified a problem with, or an improvement to, a consumer product used by millions.  You’ve developed your idea into a viable new product – a process ha is rarely simple and never without significant cost, both financial and effort.  You’re pretty confident that, once people see it, your product will be popular.  And popular…

Many innovators and product developers view patents as expensive or unnecessary—but are they really? The truth is, the most successful technology companies, both large and small, file patents for every major innovation. If you’ve invested time, money, and resources into developing a new product, patenting your idea can protect your investment. Without one, competitors could…

In today’s hyper-competitive and innovation-driven economy, businesses are increasingly relying on intangible assets to gain a competitive edge. Among those, intellectual property (IP)—such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets—plays a critical role in turning creative ideas into commercially successful ventures. But why does Intellectual Property matter to commercial success? Let’s break it down. 1.…

Why register your designs? Think about how we buy products these days.  If you’re anything like me, your buying habits will have become increasingly ‘visual’.  I will search online for something I want to buy, and the overwhelming choice available these days means that I often have to rely on visual recognition of the product…

How could your brand be globally-recognized for over a century? Be like Coca Cola ® – Use a Multi-faceted IP Strategy Can you believe that Coca Cola was originally invented in 1886 – nearly 140 years ago!!  Its inventor, Dr John Stith Pemberton, started his business by carrying a jug of the new drink to…

An innovative new podcast series In recent months, we have sponsored some episodes of an amazing new podcast series: “It’s only a Prototype”, hosted by the brilliant @phil Staunton of @D2M Innovation.  The series is a behind-the scenes guide to what it really takes to bring a physical product to life…and make it work.  Insights…

In the competitive world of startups, intellectual property (IP) is often touted as a key differentiator—something that can elevate a fledgling company above its rivals. From patented biotechnology innovations to proprietary algorithms powering software platforms, IP-focused startups often appear to have a head start. But does focusing on intellectual property actually make a startup more…

A cautionary tale I have, this week (and by no means for the first time), had to explain to a client why their granted UK patent cannot be used against a competitor that has launched a very similar product to theirs, and put a nasty dent in their sales.  Why?  Because the patent claims are…

The world has moved on quite a bit since the Coca Cola and KFC coating recipes took the food and drink markets by storm. And, although it was, in theory, possible (at least in some countries) to patent a novel recipe (under certain conditions), both companies decided at that time to keep their recipes as…