subject: 5 Easy Steps to Avoid Patent Infringement [print this page] As we have said before, patent infringement is becoming a big problem throughout the world. Often, people are unaware that what they are doing is actually patent infringement. Even in these cases though, lawsuits often occur costing both parties a lot of money. Here are five easy steps to avoid patent infringement.
#1 - The very first thing you need to do is to find out what the patent number of the technology is that you have been accused of infringing upon.
#2 - After you have acquired the patent number check to make sure that the patent is actually properly registered.
#3 - The next step is to confirm if the person or company that sent the cease-and-desist notice is actually the registered owner of the patent.
#4 - If everything checks out you should ask for a copy of the patent specifications so you can study them in detail.
#5 - If you determine that the patent owner actually has a legitimate case against you, you should either change the technology of your product or attempt to procure a license from the patent owner.
If you don't want to go through the hassle of being sent a cease-and-desist letter you have the option to make sure you don't infringe on a patent from the very beginning of your product research. Although it is very time consuming, especially in the beginning stages of product development, to research every aspect of your technology looking for potential patents that you might infringe, it may be worth it in the long run. That is of course if you have the resources, both time and money, to spend. It is most advisable to hire a qualified attorney, like ARC Intellectual Property Law, to ensure that you are not infringing on anyone's patent.
