Hi Elias, I run a small Aussie "start-up", now into our seventh year. We do SaaS for the facilities management industry. As a small company we have some very large customers - Mirvac, Goodman, Spotless ... which makes patent protection all the more important. (stops the internal IT departments of these companies attempting to duplicate our solutions). We hold 2 patents, and have 1 pending. Each one has cost about 5k to 8k to register in Aus. We use Watermark in North Ryde.
I will say that the value of patents is questioned by VC's and is often more of a cost than an asset. However, it does make getting the R&D tax rebate easier, and access to other funds. In the end, you need to be able to back your IP rights and have the finance to defend them. My point is they are not just for large companies, and in our case have proved worth the investment. Regards, Jon Tinberg www.valoremsystems.com On Nov 9, 7:26 am, Elias Bizannes <elias.bizan...@gmail.com> wrote: > <rant>Software patents hurt the world. The big companies all have agreements > with each other where it's a "we won't sue you if you don't sue us" because > they all inevitably infringe on each others patents and the rapid innovation > occuring wouldn't happen without such agreements. All patents are doing are > preventing upstarts from coming into the world, as the big companies can > shoot them out of the water and entrench their dominance. The reality is, > most patent cases get thrown out of court due to particulars, and it's a > matter of who has the most money in the bank to sustain the fight.</rant> > > But kudo's for trying to think differently. I think the most value service > providers can add is by trying to grow the ecosystem. If you actively help > companiess starting and growing, they will ineventiably need services. > Forming the relationships early on is how you secure future profitability. > It doesn't cost anything to have a coffee with someone and give them advice. > That in my eyes, is the most value you could add - and that benefits you > more than it costs. > > Elias Bizanneshttp://eliasbizannes.com > > > > On Sun, Nov 8, 2009 at 12:15 PM, 1_Place <drmichaelba...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Dear Silicon Beach > > > Reading the LifeGuard paper: > >http://www.siliconbeachaustralia.org/lifeguard/ > > & <http://www.siliconbeachaustralia.org/lifeguard/%0A&;> considering what > > can we do to help, we thought that we would seek > > suggestions from Silicon Beach for ways to improve start up access to > > legal and patent attorney services. > > > Our belief is that there are other obstacles that prevent starts up > > from having a easy path to success, one of which is the cost of IP > > protection - and in particular patent protection! > > > We would really appreciate any thoughts on how we can offer legal and > > patent attorney services and still survive ourselves. Is there a way > > that we could help IT start ups to secure patent protection for new > > inventions and not go under ourselves? > > > One way is to provide help for startups to put in their own patent > > applications. We have an initial teaching aid for patents at: > >http://www.1place.com.au/expert/expert_wizard.php?area_id=12 > > > Please let us know other ways that we could change the way legal and > > attorney services are offered to help make Australia more competitive. > > Any thoughts on this? > > > We are sure that there are good alternative business models worth > > trying; therefore, we are looking for your input. > > > Thanks > > > Michael > > 1p.com.au- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach Australia mailing list. Guidelines on discussion: http://tr.im/ujKF No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself: http://tr.im/ujMm To post to this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
