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Intellectual Property Guidelines: Do's and Don'ts

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Do:

  • Respect and protect confidential information of the company, former employers, and third parties.

  • Keep an inventor notebook with dates and diagrams; have it signed by two witnesses.

  • Complete an Invention Disclosure Form (IDF) or Patent Proposal before building prototypes.

  • Mark all invention-related documents as “Confidential.”

  • Be aware NDAs protect against disclosure but not against using IP for new inventions.

  • Describe inventions in IDFs with top-level to detailed descriptions, including figures and diagrams.

  • Keep all confidential information secure.

  • Include copyright, trademark notices, and “Patent Pending” where applicable.

  • Inform a Patent Attorney about disclosures, publications, sales offers, and competitor strategies.

Don't:​

  • Don’t admit infringement liability without consulting a patent attorney.

  • Don’t make incriminating statements without attorney review.

  • Don’t disclose concepts or make sales offers without consulting a patent attorney.

  • Don’t use unowned technology without attorney advice.

  • Don’t conduct prior art searches—let the Patent Attorney handle it.

  • Don’t expose yourself to infringement risks; consult with a Patent Attorney before engaging with similar     external projects.

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