Your Strategic
IP Partner

Your Strategy First®

Our Purpose

The world judges us based on what they can see and touch. However, at Metayage, we believe in the true value and power of Intangible assets. The entrepreneurial journey of an innovative startup founder can be extremely challenging, especially when very few believe in your inventive ideas, and most people tell you that your ideas are worthless. At Metayage, we act as a friend, well-wisher, mentor, and a strategic IP partner to nurture your idea and protect it by getting you patents that certify that your invention is unique and inventive, and give you exclusivity. We partner with you at each stage of your journey, right from idea, prototyping and launch, fundraising, scaling up to exit.

Our Services


Metayage acts as an extended in-house IP department and also doubles up as an external IP firm

Our services encompass the entire IP life cycle right from IP Identification to Monetization

International Patent Protection

We get speedy patent grants in all major markets around the world seamlessly.

IP Due Diligence

We provide clarity on patent portfolio quality, and identify red flags and provide recommendations on reducing risks due to infringement of third-party IP rights.

Patent Intelligence

We provide actionable intelligence based on patent data for Competitive Intelligence, Freedom to Operate, and Invalidating patents of competitors.

International Trademark Protection

We enhance your brand value by registering your valuable brand names, logos, and product names as trademarks in key markets.

International Design Protection

We give you an edge over your competitors by protecting your product's unique aesthetic features in major markets worldwide.

Strategic IP Partner

We act as your extended IP department and conduct IP Audits, prepare patent intelligence reports and update your IP Strategy periodically.

Why Metayage

IntellectualProperty.

Case Studies

PI Ventures

Conducted patent due diligence on Freedom to Operate and Patentability prior to Venture Capital Investment in deep tech startup.

Saankhya Labs

Prosecuted and conducted patent valuation that includes 25 granted US patents, and patents in India, Europe, Japan, and South Korea.

Niramai

International patent portfolio in the US, EPO, India, Japan, Canada, China etc. 9 US patents granted.

Numerify

17 US patents granted, related to AI driven data warehousing and analytics for Business Intelligence.

Kernel LABS

Acted as an in-house patent counsel for their portfolio companies such as Omnivor and Trusted Key (acquired by Workday, Inc).

What Our Clients Say About Metayage

Frequently Asked
Questions

Patents have an impact on the R & D, Finance, Marketing, HR and Legal departments of a company. For R&D, it protects their investment and maximizes ROI. For Finance, it increases the valuation, generates royalties and increases profits. For Marketing, it strengthens the branding, differentiation, and competitive advantage. For HR, it enables a culture of innovation, and helps to retain top technical talent. For Legal, it mitigates IP infringement risks and secures the company's valuable assets.

Since patents are territorial/country-specific, the selection of countries/jurisdictions to apply for a patent should be based on which countries are major markets, and which countries the product is likely to be made or used in. Other considerations include, the country of incorporation, likelihood of success in securing patents, ability to enforce successfully, timelines, and costs.

An IP Strategy is a systematic roadmap to align a company's business goals with Intellectual Property related initiatives. The IP strategy depends on what stage the company is in, its short and long term goals, its competitive position within the industry, etc. IP initiatives such as IP Audits. Patent intelligence, Freedom to Operate, IP protection, IPR enforcement, IP licensing and IP valuation are conducted at different stages depending on the company's IP Strategy.

The extent and scope of disclosure in a patent application should be sufficient to successfully obtain patent protection while also preserving key trade secrets to the extent possible. To obtain a patent grant, a patent application must satisfy novelty, non-obviousness, subject matter eligibility requirements, and enablement. For enablement, every element of every patent claim should be described in sufficient detail to enable a person of average skill in the technical field that the invention relates to, to make and use the invention without undue experimentation.

Especially before launching a product in new markets, but preferably even during the R&D stage, conduct a Freedom To Operate (FTO) search in those countries where you intend to launch your product. This helps to identify patents owned by third parties that your product might potentially infringe. Once these patents are identified, analyze the claims of these patents based on the specification to determine their scope of coverage. Then you can reverse engineer your product to avoid infringement, or even look at opposing or invalidating third party patents that pose a significant threat to your business.

Typically the relationship with an IP firm starts fairly early in the journey, during R&D and product development. At this stage, your company will typically not have an in-house IP department or even an in-house IP counsel. Hence, the right guidance on an IP strategy that aligns your company's requirements with IP initiatives is crucial. Transparency and clarity in communication will help you make informed decisions. Expertise and track record in successfully obtaining IP protection is another key metric to consider. Last but not least, expertise in multiple jurisdictions is critical if you want to build an international patent portfolio

Latest Blog & Articles

View All Blogs

04/Aug/2022

5 lies you’ve been telling yourself to delay patent protection

I am too busy – The truth is that if it is important and valuable enough everyone finds time for it.

24/Jan/2021

What are the patent trends in China as compared with India?

Over the past decade, the volume of patent filing in China has seen a dramatic rise.

01/Apr/2023

What are the challenges in obtaining patent protection for software-related inventions?

Software inventions are increasingly important today because they enable automation, speed, connectivity, innovation, and effective data management. Businesses who innovate using software gain competitive advantage

Metayage
Achieving the Unachievable: Securing Utility Patents Against the Odds | Metayage

Achieving the Unachievable: Securing Utility Patents Against the Odds

 

Filing a patent is intricate and not always straightforward. Each patent office operates under its own set of criteria and laws. Navigating these regulations can be challenging, especially for inventions in areas such as software, health diagnostics, food, and business methods. Many inventors are cautioned against seeking patents in these fields, several have approached us. With our expertise, we have not only filed utility patents for them but also successfully secured patent grants. 

 

When you think of utility patents, certain categories of inventions might immediately seem “unpatentable”. This is the prevailing thought for areas such as software, business methods, certain mixtures, and methods of medical diagnosis or treatment. While many shy away from attempting to patent in these domains, our journey with numerous inventors has shown that the right approach can lead to a successful patent grant. 

 

Understanding Utility Patent Criteria 

 

One of the fundamental criteria an invention must meet for patentability is that it shouldn’t fall into prohibited categories. Often, when patent firms come across inventions in these domains, they advise their clients to look into alternatives like copyright, trade secrets, or even design registrations. But is a utility patent truly out of reach?

 

The Grey Area of Non-Obviousness

 

Another pivotal requirement in patent law is the concept of non-obviousness or the inventive step. It’s subjective, and this subjectivity can be an advantage. What might seem non-inventive to one might seem revolutionary to another, all based on the perception of an “average person” and the way the patent application is articulated.

 

Innovation: A Journey, Not a Destination

 

We firmly believe that innovation isn’t a fixed point but a continuous path. If an inventor is passionate and willing to delve deep, we’re right beside them, guiding them towards their patent goal. This involves in-depth analysis of the problem, brainstorming solutions to challenges, and refining the invention till it aligns with patentability standards.

 

Our Collaborative Approach

 

By working closely with inventors, asking the pertinent questions, and fostering a collaborative environment, we refine and redefine inventions to meet patentability criteria. Our vast experience across jurisdictions, from the ideation phase to a granted patent, gives us the foresight to anticipate potential objections. This proactive strategy ensures we’re always a step ahead, increasing the chances of a successful patent grant.

 

Success Stories

 

A striking example of our success is the case of a startup founder who created a unique beverage, Again Drinks. Many believed food and beverages couldn’t be patented in India, yet we successfully secured three granted patents for Vaitheeswaran K  innovative beverages. The beverage is available on Amazon and Big Basket. 

Another instance is the common kitchen appliance, the idly tray. While most would have seen it as an ordinary object beyond patenting, we embraced the challenge. The result? A successfully obtained utility patent for something as commonplace as an idly tray. Product designed by Michael Foley http://bit.ly/3E6vZrG and available on https://www.sculptstore.com/  

 

 While utility patents for skincare might seem unusual, with expertise and innovation, we defied the odds. We secured a utility patent for a unique coffee-based skincare line crafted by our client, Mita Ponnapa http://bit.ly/3slyKDb. Dive into this groundbreaking skincare range here: kabrewkoffee.com.

 

Equally remarkable is our collaboration with Niramai Thermalytix http://bit.ly/45eDgll. For them, we secured utility patents for an advanced computer-aided diagnostic engine, supercharged by Artificial Intelligence. This pioneering solution combines high-resolution thermal sensing with cloud-hosted analytics to offer early, accurate, and dependable breast cancer screening. Schedule your essential breast screening today at niramai.com.

 

Navigating the world of patents isn’t always straightforward, but with the right guidance, perseverance, and a collaborative approach, what seems unachievable becomes a gratifying reality. Our mission remains to champion innovators, ensuring their creations receive the recognition and protection they deserve.

 

Metayage