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Cashedge Case Study

From Idea to Acquisition: Thoughtful patent protection helped CashEdge protect its groundbreaking software and be acquired by a major public company.

Taking CashEdge From Startup to Successful $465 Million Acquisition

The CashEdge story is an example of Barbara Courtney’s ongoing successful collaboration with a company that began as an early stage startup. CashEdge is a software company that presented a groundbreaking financial application, essentially enabling the online money transfers that most of us use every day. They required assistance with protecting their valuable IP. In the course of our collaboration with the company, two significant obstacles were overcome.

The first was that there are many companies developing and marketing “financial software,” but that term typically referred to accounting systems. Working closely with the founders, we determined how to articulate the ways in which CashEdge was presenting something completely new. Essentially, it had to be conveyed in the patent application and claims that CashEdge provided a customer interface for money transfers, an extensive backend interface with financial institutions, and compliance with banking regulations to enable instant online money transfers.

The second hurdle was that the perspective of both the patent office and the courts on whether software can be patented has varied through the years. Unfortunately, CashEdge was bringing its product to market at a time when it was very difficult to get patent coverage for software.

Leveraging Expertise and Relationships to Protect the Client’s IP

Over the course of more than a decade, we used our understanding of the patent system and our relationships with key players within that system to secure many patents for CashEdge under very challenging circumstances. We also provided attentive management of the company’s entire patent portfolio, and participated in a smooth IP due diligence in the course of the eventual acquisition.

Ultimately, CashEdge was acquired by Fiserv, a major public company, for $465 million. Today, the principals behind CashEdge have demonstrated their confidence in Barbara Courtney and Martensen IP by having us represent them as they look to establish and grow their next startup.

  • "Keen ability to target and successfully capture IP concepts for further development."
    David Bruemmer, 5D Robotics
  • "Navigated our patent applications from complex technology to award. Mike’s global associates helped inform and execute our global strategy."
    Julie Zinn, Spirae
  • "Trusted counsel who distills complex technology and legal matters into simple terms."
    Richard Kinsman, TERSUS

We Are Members of:

  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office Bar
  • National Contract Management Association
  • American Bar Association
  • National Defense Industrial Association
  • Association of Graduates – US Air Force Academy
  • Military Officers Association of America
  • Colorado Space Business Round Table
  • Denver Economic Development Corporation
  • Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Certified
Our Values What Our Work Means
  • We Maintain A Record of Success in Achieving Patent Coverage
    Every attorney has 20+ years of experience and has drafted and prosecuted hundreds of successful patent applications.
  • We Function At The Intersection Of Business, Law And Technology

    Our experience and knowledge converge at the intersection of intellectual property and government contracting. We are uniquely positioned not just as a provider of technical counsel, but also as part of business advisory teams.

  • We Provide Superior Legal Guidance and Value
    Experience in numerous business and engineering disciplines creates a knowledge base that makes it possible for our attorneys to assist clients in situations where IP legal advice only makes sense if placed within the context of a client’s complete business strategy.
  • We Develop Strategies to Enhance Competitive Advantage
    We come up with great IP strategies to enhance our client’s competitive advantage but recognize that the technology will change, the environment will change, the competition will change and so will our plan; we’re ready.
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