What Happened
New year, same patent system—but maybe new opportunities. 2026 is a good time to review your IP strategy and make sure it aligns with your business goals.
Why It Matters
Many companies treat patents as an afterthought. R&D invents something, legal files a patent, everyone moves on. But strategic IP planning connects patents to business objectives: product protection, competitive positioning, revenue generation, risk mitigation.
Start with an audit. What patents do you have? Which ones cover current products? Which ones cover competitor products? Which ones are worth maintaining? Prune weak patents; invest in strong ones.
Consider your filing pipeline. What inventions are in development? Which deserve patent protection? Which are better as trade secrets? File before any public disclosure.
Review your international strategy. Are you in the right countries? Are you missing important markets? PCT deadlines approaching?
What You Should Know
Make IP a business discussion, not just a legal one. Involve product, engineering, and business teams in IP planning.
Budget realistically. Quality patenting costs money. So does litigation. Plan for both.
Monitor competitors. What are they patenting? Where are they filing? What does that tell you about their strategy?
Start the year with a clear IP strategy. It's easier to execute when you know where you're going.