How to protect your ideas while crowdfunding or raising funds; for startups, inventors, entrepreneurs and companies.

1. PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS IDEAS
Mary Juetten, Founder & CEO
Jill HowardAllen, COO
Microsoft: October 10, 2013
"TRAKLIGHT", "ID YOUR IP", "IP VAULT", and "IP CLOUD" are registered trademarks of The PIP Vault, LLC. © MMXIII The PIP Vault, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

2. What is IP?
• Patents (utility & design)
• Copyright ©
• Trademark/Service mark TM SM ®
• Trade secrets – unsung heroes
NO legal advice provided!

3. Got Intellectual Property?
Why Care…
• IP theft costs US companies $250
billion annually
• 100% of all companies have IP
• 700K new startups annually vs. 20%
protected IP after 1st year
• IP is most valuable asset and not on
your Balance Sheet
• Exclude competition; Attract
investment (incl. crowdfunding);
Leverage & license
• Avoid IP loss, infringement, or
business failure
Disclaimer: This is intended to be general information. Nothing in this presentation constitutes
legal advice. Please consult with an attorney before making any intellectual property protection
decisions.

4. IP Misconceptions
• IP is just for Tech Startups or Tech companies
& Patents are the only IP for inventors
• Trade secrets are the easiest to protect because
there is no registration.
• You can copy anything without a copyright ©
• You can copyright an idea.
• Domain = TM
• If I pay for it, I own it.
• Patents means right to make
or sell

5. Start on the Right Trak
Do NOT start with creating a:
Campaign
Pitch
or
Business Plan
THIS APPLIES TO ALL FINANCING!
Disclaimer: This is intended to be general information. Nothing in this presentation constitutes
legal advice. Please consult with an attorney before making any intellectual property protection
decisions.

6. Summary
IDENTIFY IP
PROTECT IP
PICK A PLATFORM
BUILD SOCIAL CAPITAL
CREATE A PITCH

7. Strategies:
1.ID IP 2.Protect IP
WHY
WHO
WHAT
WHEN
WHERE
✔

8. WHO: IP Ownership Challenges
• Multiple Inventors
• Who you are? Employee of another company
• Proper Assignment of IP Rights – personal versus
company
• Assume that Ownership automatically extends outside
the US

9. • Date of Idea/Invention (First to Invent  First
INVENTOR to file)
• Date of Use
• Date of Filing
• Date of Conversion
• Renewals
WHEN: Key Dates to Remember

10. • Idea
• URL
• Name
• Know how
• Employees
• Contractors
WHAT: Business Plan/Funding
Presentation

11. Strategies to Protect IP
• Do it Yourself:
– USPTO.gov
– Copyright.gov
• Hire a Professional:
– Attorney, Consultant, Legal Zoom, Rocket Lawyer
• Secrets:
– Notary, IP Vault, Copyright software

12. • Inventor
• Website
• Software
• Restaurant
• Traklight!
`
Case Studies
2/ 26/ 13 11:42 AMIP Awareness Assessm ent
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Q5. Do you control and manage the proper use of your trademark by other users
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Important Notice
Please note that any information provided
here does not constitute legal advice, but is
intended to increase your IP awareness.
When filing an application for obtaining
specific IP rights, it is recommended that you
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IP Strategies & Best Practices
Trademarks
Copyrights
Design Patents
Trade Secrets
Utility Patents
Using Technology of Others
Licensing Technology to Others
International IP Rights
IP Asset Tracking
IP category
Last Modified: February 26, 2013

13. 3: PICK A PLATFORM
• REWARDS BASED:
Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Rocket Hub  How
it works online!
• EQUITY BASED:
Not yet legal  Online Business Planning
Required
• OTHER:
Angel List, Lending Club, Georgia CF

14. GET READY NOW
Equity is not yet Legal
Create a Pipeline
Same steps as other Financing Sources

15. EQUITY is not Easy
Requirements include:
Financial Statements
Background Checks
Valuation
Business Plan

16. REWARDS
CHOOSE THE BEST PLATFORM FOR
YOU:
• ALL OR NOTHING
• % BASED ON TYPE
• BE REALISTIC

17. STEP 4: RAISE SOCIAL CAPTIAL
Success is directly related to Social Capital
Social Capital is more than Social Media
Quality not Quantity

18. CONTENT IS KING
Expert
Blogs
Speaking
Social Media
PR
Start working on this before you launch your
campaign.

19. Case Study: Lessons Learned

20. What they do.
• Genetic Art
– Ts
– Portraits
• Channels
– Obsessed pet
owner
– Animal
organizations

21. Campaign attempt #1

22. Seriously?... Try again?
• Lessons learned
• New plan of action
• New cause
• New business
opportunity

23. The new plan.
• Pre-Selling
• HEAVY PR
– Social Presence
– Local media
• Partnering
• Get it in writing
• New rewards structure
• SCHEDULE

24. UPDATE

25. ONLINE
Campaign
Business Plan
Projections
`
STEP 5: CREATE PITCH

26. Ignorance is NOT a Defense
Be Careful:
Video
Copy
Business Plans

27. READ READ READ
Read License & Permission to Use
Check out Creative Commons

28. Questions?
Mary Juetten
mejuetten@traklight.com
@traklight
IDENTIFY. PROTECT. SUCCEED.
www.traklight.com
Jill HowardAllen
Jhowardallend@traklight.com
@traklight