Understand and Identify the Value of Intellectual Property (IP)
Integrate IP Strategies into Research & Development (R&D)
Time & Training Schedule
9:30–11:00
IP rights in a product: What patents, designs, copyright and trade secrets protect; how functional features, appearance, drawings and manufacturing know-how are treated. Exercise: identify the different IP rights in a sample product.
Freedom to operate (FTO): Why it matters, when to request it, what information R&D must provide, and why a patentability search does not establish FTO. Exercise: prepare an FTO request for a proposed product.
11:15–12:45
Recognising inventions and reading patents: What may qualify as an invention, including incremental improvements; how to read claims, descriptions and drawings; the difference between what a patent describes and what it claims. Exercise: identify the claimed features in a sample patent.
Product redesign: Compare a proposed product with relevant patent claims; develop alternative technical solutions; check whether design or copyright questions also arise. Exercise: propose two redesign options and record the questions requiring specialist review.
1:45–3:15
Inventors, applicants and disclosures: Who contributed to the invention, who applies for the patent, how the company establishes ownership, and what engineers must document before public disclosure. Exercise: complete an invention disclosure form.
International filing choices: How sales markets, manufacturing locations, competitors and budget influence country selection; direct filings versus the PCT route; key decision points for R&D and management. Exercise: recommend filing markets for a sample company.
3:30–5:00
Choosing what to protect: Benefits of filing; how claim scope and product relevance affect business value; when to consider a patent, design registration or trade secret. Exercise: assess three innovations and recommend a protection approach for each.
An idea-generation system for the company: Set up an idea bank, monthly review committee, decision criteria and a minimum incentive plan; assign responsibility for a 90-day pilot. Exercise: draft a one-page process to present to management.
Meet our Mentor
Mr. Suneet Sabale
Mr. Suneet Sabale is the Founder, Director, and CEO of Brainiac IP Solutions, a Mechanical Engineer and Registered Indian Patent Agent with over 20 years of experience in Intellectual Property (IP). Since starting his IP journey in 2005 and founding Brainiac IP Solutions in 2010, he has helped startups, MSMEs, universities, and MNCs protect, manage, and monetize their innovations through strategic patent solutions.
An inventor himself, he holds a granted Indian patent (IN338459) and brings a unique combination of technical expertise and patent law experience. His expertise includes patent strategy, patent analytics, competitor benchmarking, patent portfolio development, Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) analysis, and global patent protection.