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Article: Patents on a Budget: The Provisional Application.
- Article from:
- Genomics and Proteomics
- Article date:
- November 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Advantage Business Media. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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By Richard Lebovitz
Patents are the intellectual property currency of the world of commerce. They are used to protect competitors from copying a patented product, and as a source of revenue when products are licensed. Obtaining patent rights is therefore an important ingredient for financial success. However, at the early stage of a technology's development, its commercial value may be uncertain, making its developers reluctant to sink resources into patent preparation which can be costly and time-consuming. Financing is a deterrent for academic institutions and start-up companies that have limited budgets, especially when financial support is primarily from ...