IPGuy, Clarkston, MI (2026)

06/18/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗜 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿

In my years practicing IP law, I've seen two kinds of regret.

The first: a company spends serious money on foreign patents it never uses, never enforces, never licenses, never connects to any real business strategy.

The second is worse. A company 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘱𝘴 international filings to save money, then watches a competitor overseas copy its product and take its market share.

Both are painful. Both are avoidable.

The difference is simple. Ask this strategic question early:

"𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴?"

File in the U.S. first. Use the PCT process to keep your options open for 30 months. Then make deliberate decisions about the countries where you manufacture, compete, and sell.

It's not about filing everywhere. It's about filing 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘺.

If you haven't had this conversation with an IP attorney, the best time to have it is before your next product launch, trade show, or shipment of the first sample.

Because once that invisible clock runs out, no one can turn it back.

I’ve prepared a Guide and Checklist to help business owners identify their intellectual property. Click below to download a free copy:
👉 https://www.ipguy.com/what-every-manufacturing-company-needs-to-know-about-foreign-patents/

06/18/2026

"𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲" — 𝗪𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴.

"You can't enforce patents overseas."

I hear this all the time. It's outdated and costing manufacturers money.

Yes, overseas litigation looks different from what you're used to in the U.S. But assuming enforcement is impossible is exactly why some manufacturers aren't even trying, leaving the door wide open to copying.

Here's what matters:

WHERE are your competitors manufacturing?

WHERE are the key markets you need to defend?

WHERE does your contract manufacturing take place?

If the answer to any of those is "outside the US," and you don't have patents there, you're unprotected in the places that matter.

Don't let a myth cost you your market position.

I’ve prepared a Guide and Checklist to help business owners identify their intellectual property. Click below to download a free copy:
👉 https://www.ipguy.com/what-every-manufacturing-company-needs-to-know-about-foreign-patents/

06/17/2026

𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲

A client wanted to expand into Europe and Asia.

But he had no interest in building factories overseas.

Instead of pouring capital into plants he didn't want to manage, this highly successful tool manufacturer did something most people never consider:

He licensed his patents.

And collected royalties on every sale.

No factories. No overseas headaches. Just a steady stream of income from markets he didn't want to enter on his own.

This is the part of the foreign patent conversation that seldom gets discussed:

𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲.

The right international patent portfolio can become a revenue engine — through licensing deals, royalty streams, and market access without capital expenditure.

For mid-size manufacturers, this isn't a fantasy. It's a real strategy that companies are using right now.

The key is to file strategically in the right countries — where your technology has value, where manufacturers operate, and where your competitors are growing.

Are you thinking of your patents as assets or just as legal expenses?

I’ve prepared a Guide and Checklist to help business owners identify their intellectual property. Click below to download a free copy:
👉 https://www.ipguy.com/what-every-manufacturing-company-needs-to-know-about-foreign-patents/

06/16/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸

There's an invisible clock ticking right now for your invention.

Most manufacturers have no idea it's running.

Here's how it works:

The moment your product is publicly described, shown at a trade show, or offered for sale — or, honestly, 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 — the clock starts.

In the U.S., you have one year to file. Miss that window, and you're done.

But here's the part that trips people up the most:

𝗔𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱.

Disclose your invention 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 before filing, and you permanently lose your right to patent protection in those countries. Gone forever. No exceptions.

The good news? There's a smart, strategic way to protect yourself internationally. It's the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) — and it can give you up to 30 months to decide which countries to pursue.

30 months to determine whether your product has global commercial legs before you invest in foreign filings.

If you're a manufacturer with any international exposure, let's talk before your next product launch, before the next trade show, and before you send that sample overseas.

The clock is ticking. Don't let it run down.

I’ve prepared a Guide and Checklist to help business owners identify their intellectual property. Click below to download a free copy:
👉 https://www.ipguy.com/what-every-manufacturing-company-needs-to-know-about-foreign-patents/

06/15/2026

𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗦 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗕𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱

A client came to me furious. They were 𝘣𝘶𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵... 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭.

Not only was it humiliating — it handed the competitor a front-row seat to their sales volumes.

So, we did some digging and found something shocking:

The competitor only held a U.S. patent.

That one discovery changed everything. It opened the door to manufacturing that component 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜.𝘚. and selling the product in markets around the world, completely legally.

One gap in their patent strategy. One massive opportunity for our client.

Here's the thing most manufacturers don't realize: 𝗮 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆. The rest of the world? Wide open.

If you're selling overseas, exporting, or using contract manufacturing outside the U.S. and have only a U.S. patent, your competitors will likely exploit the protection gap.

The question is: are you closing the gap?

Drop a comment if you want to know the first step to plugging this gap.

I’ve prepared a Guide and Checklist to help business owners identify their intellectual property. Click below to download a free copy:
👉 https://www.ipguy.com/what-every-manufacturing-company-needs-to-know-about-foreign-patents/

06/04/2026

Dangerous words in patent protection.

“We can try and file it ourselves.”

Patent applications are not technical papers.

They are legal documents.

When done correctly, they can stop competitors, attract investors, and generate licensing revenue.

When done poorly, they can collapse when challenged.

My book 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴: 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 will help you understand the IP in your business and its value. It will also explain the traps and mistakes that can get you sued. Click here for a free copy:
👉https://www.ipguy.com/you-can-draft-your-own-patent-but-you-shouldnt/

06/04/2026

The best patents result from collaboration.

Collaboration between the patent attorney and inventor.

Inventors understand the technology.

Experienced patent attorneys understand how competitors attack patents in court.

You need both.

That combination creates patents that survive lawsuits and increase company value.

My book 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴: 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 will help you understand the IP in your business and its value. It will also explain the traps and mistakes that can get you sued. Click here for a free copy:
👉https://www.ipguy.com/you-can-draft-your-own-patent-but-you-shouldnt/

06/03/2026

A weak patent can be worse than no patent.

Why?

Because it gives business owners false confidence.

I’ve seen patents that looked impressive on the wall but were so narrow that competitors could easily get around them.

A strong patent stops competitors.

A weak patent becomes expensive wallpaper.

My book 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴: 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 will help you understand the IP in your business and its value. It will also explain the traps and mistakes that can get you sued. Click here for a free copy:
👉https://www.ipguy.com/you-can-draft-your-own-patent-but-you-shouldnt/

06/02/2026

Most business owners think patents are about inventions.

That is partially correct.

But patents are also about words.

The wrong word can let competitors copy your product legally.

In one case, a patent owner lost because his claim used the word “strike” instead of “driven.”

That single word cost him the lawsuit.

And likely millions.

My book 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴: 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 will help you understand the IP in your business and its value. It will also explain the traps and mistakes that can get you sued. Click here for a free copy:
👉https://www.ipguy.com/you-can-draft-your-own-patent-but-you-shouldnt/

06/01/2026

You can file your own patent application.

You can also remove your own appendix.

Neither is a good idea.

One wrong word can destroy patent protection.

That actually happened.

A business owner thought he had a strong patent until a court invalidated it because of the word “about.”

One word.

That was the difference between owning a monopoly and owning nothing.

My book 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴: 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 will help you understand the IP in your business and its value. It will also explain the traps and mistakes that can get you sued. Click here for a free copy:
👉https://www.ipguy.com/you-can-draft-your-own-patent-but-you-shouldnt/

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