The Best Times to Get a Grip on Your Startup’s IP

Good reminder that IP protection is very important. Another time to consider is when signing up for AWS. It's been discussed on Hacker News a few times but AWS's "standard" terms around Patent non-assert basically gives away your IP to Amazon.

From section 8.5: "During and after the Term, you will not assert, nor will you authorize, assist, or encourage any third party to assert, against us or any of our affiliates, customers, vendors, business partners, or licensors, any patent infringement or other intellectual property infringement claim regarding any Service Offerings you have used. You may only use the AWS Marks in accordance with the Trademark Use Guidelines."

I wonder how many companies have fallen into this trap as a tiny two-person company, grow it into something big, and then find out AWS can basically abuse your IP with no recourse...