7 Reasons Patents Should Not Be Ignored

Avoiding losses. Your company could suffer huge losses in a single year by infringing on someone else's patent.

Protecting your assets.  Owning your own patented technology can lead to higher revenue in the form of royalties or licensing fees.

Deadlines.  If you have a patentable invention, you have only a one-year grace period from the date of the "public disclosure" to file a patent application (outside the U.S. there is no such grace period).

Awareness.  Being ignorant of the fact that someone else has patented technology is not a defense to patent infringement.

Free searches.  The US Patent and Trademark Office has a free Web site (www.uspto.gov) where you can search to see what patents have been issued-not just to prevent infringement, but as a first step to obtaining your own patent protection.

Exclusivity.  With a patent protecting your technology, you can exclude others from making or selling it.

Financial health.  With your assets protected, you will be in a stronger position if you seek to acquire another company (or be acquired).