Ask HN: Startup founders, did you regret applying for a patent?

Ianal. But I hold 4 patents with more pending.

My opinion of the value of patents for a small company is:

- marketing (many naive customers believe if you have a unique and valuable product, then it should be patented. If you have a patent, then your product must be good. If you don’t, does that mean the product isn’t valuable?)

- it can plant red herrings on what your doing to potential competitors.

- it can be valuable for moral for some employees.

- it potentially has value for a potential acquirer.

- it prevents big companies from patenting the disclosed material in the future and reducing the chances of boxing a small company out.

I do not believe it provides protection against a big company. They can litigate you to death even if you are in the right.

yes , wasted lot of time and $$ just to get large company like google challenge the patent - lawyers says now it will take few 100'K more - gave up