Protecting Your Ideas: IP for Makers, Builders & Founders

Join us at Fat Cat Fab Lab for a practical presentation on intellectual property and patent law tailored for makers, builders, hardware/software developers, and early-stage founders.

Led by New York patent attorney and inventor Stefan Knirr, this session will explore the fundamentals of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets through the lens of real-world product development and commercialization.

Topics will include: • What patents do — and do not — protect • Provisional vs. non-provisional patent strategies • Public disclosure risks and timing • Protecting prototypes, code, CAD files, branding, and creative assets • Common IP mistakes early-stage builders make • Practical considerations around cost, filing strategy, and commercialization

The session is designed to be practical, accessible, and directly relevant to creators developing products, launching startups, collaborating with others, or preparing to bring ideas to market.

6:30–6:45 → Arrival / networking 6:45–7:30 → Main presentation 7:30–8:00 → Audience Q&A + project-specific questions

Free and open to the community. Limited seating available.