In this episode, Adrian and Renaud explore how to avoid leaking your intellectual property (IP) when sourcing components during product development. While working with suppliers, especially overseas, is often necessary, it can also pose significant IP risks. This discussion breaks down the real-world scenarios, risks, and mitigation strategies to help manufacturers protect their innovations without slowing down production.

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Episode sections

• 01:31 – Why Sourcing Creates IP Risks
• 07:02 – Real-World Example: Blender Copied by ODM
• 16:02 – When Volume Triggers Curiosity
• 21:06 – Why Total Secrecy Isn’t Always Realistic
• 27:06 – Partial Disclosure & Engineering Workarounds
• 33:04 – Vetting, Trust, and Strategic Disclosure
• 39:17 – Wrapping Up

Related content…

• Chinese Copycats: A Real Problem For Entrepreneurs?
• Will A China NNN Agreement Protect Us If We Start Assembling Products There?
• Learn about the importance of a manufacturing agreement/contract
• Listen to our podcast series about Vetting Chinese suppliers
• IP Protection For Manufacturers. Keep Component Suppliers In The Dark

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