Case Study: Intellectual Property Consulting: Protecting Intellectual Property for Startups Saves Time, Money, and Stress

Case Study: Intellectual Property Consulting:
Protecting Intellectual Property for Startups Saves Time, Money, and Stress

“RunduettBikes” Founding Team| PIZ Dresden

In the following interview with the team of founders behind “Runduett Bikes,” you’ll learn what insights from their consultation with PIZ Dresden helped them move their idea forward.

What is your business idea, and how did you come up with it?

“Runduett Bikes are lightweight and safe cargo bikes. They’re the lightest space-saving wonders on two wheels. To drive the transportation transition in cities and replace individual car travel with sustainable and resource-efficient alternatives, we need a simple and pleasant alternative to the car.”

When did you start looking into intellectual property rights?

“We began looking into intellectual property rights in early 2023, when we realized that our idea could actually become a product. It’s important to us to ensure that our project doesn’t fail because we infringe on others’ intellectual property or because our idea is copied by competitors.

During the “Business Plan Seminar” at TU Dresden, we met Ms. Pohlandt, the director of the Patent Information Center at TUD|excite (PIZ Dresden).

She helped us conduct a “freedom-to-operate” patent search to determine whether the copyright law of other applicants would stand in the way of the development, manufacture, and market launch of our product.”

What were your expectations regarding the information provided by the PIZ—specifically concerning copyright law—before you participated?

“We asked for assistance with patent searches so that we could conduct them on our own.”

How did you prepare for the consultation?

“We used the freely available patent search tool to identify initial patents held by competitors and determine the relevant patent classes.”

Did you gain any new insights that are useful for your project?

“At PIZ Dresden, we searched a professional database for active copyright laws within the patent classes relevant to our product that might restrict us. The advice and guidance we received were very helpful in this process. We determined that we are not infringing on anyone else’s copyright law. This is very important for us to successfully implement our project.”

How did you find the support provided by the staff at the Patent Information Centers?

“The support was very professional, always friendly, and helpful at all times.”

How were you able to use the information from the PIZ?

“We’re now working on filing our own patent so we can protect ourselves against imitations.”

How has participating in this program changed your perspective on the protection of patents, trademarks, and designs?

“The importance of intellectual property rights has increased even further for us.”