COJK works with startups at all stages of development.
COJK attorneys assist startups ranging from solo entrepreneurs to quickly growing teams, to organizations with 500+ employees. They understand the unique position of startup companies and the importance of taking early action to maximize intellectual property protection. They help these organizations identify their unique intellectual property assets, and develop plans to protect their intellectual property in the early periods and as their company grows through all stages of development. They team with startups to leverage intellectual property in all phases of funding, from personal, seed, and angel funding, through venture capital and initial public offerings.
For many startups, intellectual property (IP) is the most important asset to the organization. For this reason, it is critical to develop a comprehensive IP plan as early as possible to implement time-sensitive protection mechanisms, broaden the scope of the portfolio, and maximize value. COJK loves working with startups on the ground floor because they know that their expertise can provide significant benefits, such as assisting companies in establishing IP protection—even while being first to market, solidifying brand recognition and customer loyalty, and greatly increasing the chances of the startup growing into a market leader.
COJK assists startups in protecting their IP assets with patents, trademarks, copyrights, licensing and third-party agreements, and maintaining the confidentiality of trade secret information. They provide advice to startups regarding avoiding premature public disclosure of IP when presenting ideas to potential investors; IP assignment options for founders, employees, and external contractors; and on online publicity, websites, and e-commerce considerations.