Should your startup file for a patent or keep its invention a trade secret? A patent essentially grants rights to exclude others in the making, selling, or using of a certain invention.1 Patents are granted for a limited term.2 A utility patent, the most common type, will expire twenty years after the earliest priority date.3…
Author: Christopher Sesi
University of Michigan
JD Candidate, 2016
University of Michigan - Flint
MS in Computer Science and Information Systems Candidate, 2016
Wayne State University
BA in Economics, 2011
Unpaid Internships and Intellectual Property Rights
Are unpaid internships still worth the trouble? For an early stage startup, the offer of free work may seem invaluable. Although unpaid interns may aide a startups bank account, hosting one may leave you open to severe future legal consequences. According to The Department of Labor, the following six legal criteria must be met in…
From Startup to IPO: The Long Haul
The Startup Let’s say you and two friends decide to pursue a company in Internet technology, Gray Matter. You three will be co-founders and hope to one day take the company public. Initially, the company will be incorporated as a C Corporation, typical for most public companies or those hoping to go public.1 Seed Money:…