Ask HN: How do I "prove" my app doesn't infringe on existing IP?
I'm working on getting my app (mobile and web components) into a pilot program with a local government agency. It's taken >3 months for them to review my proposal and draft their own agreement and terms for the pilot. One of the questions their legal counsel asked was for "proof" that this app doesn't infringe on any existing intellectual property. Any thoughts on how to go about providing such proof or mitigating the need for it? I assume obligatory IANAL on all comments... unless you say IAAL!
To explain the app a touch further... All it really does is provides an interface (web) for the government agency to setup appointment reminders for people who have installed the mobile app. Push notifications and more details will then be sent to the mobile app user. That's only slightly more generic than the actual functionality. Not trying to hide details because of stealth mode, but for anonymity.
My initial response was this is not even remotely groundbreaking technology at this point, and it's only doing things that a great deal of apps already do. Obviously, that doesn't quite hold water as a legal defense, but am I seriously supposed to comb through all potentially related patents preemptively, and refute each one?
To explain the app a touch further... All it really does is provides an interface (web) for the government agency to setup appointment reminders for people who have installed the mobile app. Push notifications and more details will then be sent to the mobile app user. That's only slightly more generic than the actual functionality. Not trying to hide details because of stealth mode, but for anonymity.
My initial response was this is not even remotely groundbreaking technology at this point, and it's only doing things that a great deal of apps already do. Obviously, that doesn't quite hold water as a legal defense, but am I seriously supposed to comb through all potentially related patents preemptively, and refute each one?