We recently hosted a workshop at the CSUF Startup Incubator with Justin Sanders, Managing Partner at Master Key IP, focused on helping founders understand the fundamentals of protecting their intellectual property.
This session is especially valuable for early-stage entrepreneurs, engineers, and product builders who want to avoid common mistakes around disclosure, filing strategy, and ownership.
What Justin Covered
What you can actually patent
Many founders assume anything “new” is patentable. Justin explains what truly qualifies as an invention and why demonstrating a technical advance matters.
First-to-file basics
The United States operates on a first-to-file system, meaning timing is everything. Justin walks through how priority works and why filing early can protect you from losing rights.
Public disclosure risks
Talking about your idea before filing can jeopardize your ability to patent it. Justin breaks down the one-year grace period in the U.S. and why confidentiality is still critical.
Provisional vs. non-provisional applications
When should you file a provisional patent? What does it actually protect? Justin explains how provisionals fit into a broader IP strategy.
IP ownership and agreements
From NDAs to contractor agreements, Justin highlights why written terms matter and how to make sure your company (not a partner or contractor) owns its intellectual property.
Forming a business entity
Why an LLC or corporation helps shield your personal assets, and why founders should talk to an attorney before signing any agreements or going to market.
Resources From the Workshop
Slides and supplemental materials are available here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OZ_7dd1x7MAlCB4ERIg1UTwZNGe1UR-o?usp=sharing
Learn More About Justin Sanders
Master Key IP (Justin’s practice):
https://www.masterkeyip.com/home.php
Justin on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinsanders/