Ep. 222 | How to Own Your Idea: IP Moves That Actually Work
Guess what: your million-dollar idea isn’t safe. Not unless you know the difference between a patent, a trademark, and a trade secret.
In this episode, Matt and Lou sit down with IP attorney Austin Bonderer to reveal the legal toolbox small businesses and startups need to protect what matters most: your ideas, brand, and secret sauce. They dive into patent basics, trademark headaches, global filing strategies, AI risks, and trade secrets worth their weight in gold.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
✅ Patents = a government‑granted monopoly (the why and how)
✅ The three must-have criteria: useful, novel, unobvious
✅ Design patents cover looks; utility covers functionality
✅ Trademarks aren’t just logos; they protect consumers by preventing confusion
✅ Patent trolls explained; intellectual property as investment
✅ Global patents via PCT; 30-month deadline to enter country filings
✅ Trade secrets = your unregistered secret sauce (think Coca‑Cola recipe)
✅ AI disclosures can kill your patent (think twice before feeding it secret ideas)
✅ Public domain explosion: patents expire after ~20 years; copyrights ~90 years + life
Who is Austin?
Austin Bonderer is the founder of the Law Offices of Austin Bonderer, dedicated solely to intellectual property. A former patent examiner and stalwart lawyer, his passion is helping entrepreneurs actually protect their work without draining their budgets.
🎧 Why Should You Listen?
This episode arms you with practical IP moves. If you’ve got a novel idea or want to protect your brand’s future, hit play. Your future self will thank you.
Favorite Quote:
“Something is patentable if it has utility… it’s got to be novel… and unobvious.”
Connect with Austin:
Website https://bondererpatents.com
LinkedIn (personal) https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-bonderer-a0b08b3
YouTube Shorts https://www.youtube.com/@AustinThePatentAttorney/shorts
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/austin_the_patent_attorney
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OrangeCountyPatentAttorney
📞 Want help prepping your business for growth or sale?
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