Definition
Freedom to Operate (FTO)
An analysis that determines whether a product, service, or process can be commercialized without infringing on valid patent rights held by third parties. An FTO clearance does not mean the inventor's idea is patentable — it means the inventor can build and sell without risk of infringement litigation. Ophir frames FTO as the first question every founder should answer before raising money, hiring engineers, or talking to customers: if someone else owns the rights to your core mechanism, finding out on day zero costs almost nothing; finding out at Series A or after a lawsuit is potentially company-ending.
From the episode “How Do I Protect My Idea?”Hear it on the podcast1 episode
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