Patents are used very differently by large multinational companies compared to small- and medium-sized firms. Both small and large firms use patents to protect their intellectual property, but their strategy must be consistent with the current stage of corporate maturity. A strategy that might be appropriate for a large auto manufacturer, for example, would typically not be anywhere near appropriate for a startup company or other small to medium enterprise. As companies grow and mature, patenting strategies tend to change over time as well, and it pays to re-examine a company’s patenting strategy periodically.
