IP or no IP: that is the question

摘要

One of the questions I am frequently asked, particularly when I am speaking at more industrially oriented events is the question of patents or, boldly put by one inquirer: "Does it make sense at all for a company to start a new microfluidics-based development due to the IP situation?" This indeed is a very relevant question and usually leads to a lengthy discussion which I would like to describe in this article.