Microsoft bagged Patent for Internet Spying Technology

Microsoft is in the news again, this time for winning a Patent on Legal Intercept Technology which will allow organizations to monitor and intercept communications on VoIP based networks.The patent application was filed at the USPTO in December 2009. As per the patent filing , Legal Intercept Technology involves " A method implemented at least in part by a computer receiving data regarding establishing a communication session between at least two entities via a switched packet network for a communication that includes audio and a recorder manager operable to configure a recording agent to silently copy communication transmitted via the communication session". 

Meanwhile , this technology for silently recording communications on VoIP networks opens doors for the governmental organizations and law enforcement bodies to monitor communication between telephone or VoIP users to ensure better ways to intercept Internet communications. It is evident that earlier this year, in May when Microsoft agreed to buy skype for $8.5 Billion, it appeared that Microsoft will make Skype compatible with CALEA (Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act), which will make telecommunication carriers to comply with the surveillance norms of the Governmental and Law enforcement agencies. Hence, it can be inferred that  Microsoft patent portfolio has yet another shining technology which holds great promise for the future of legal interception in telecommunication sector.

(Image by Svilen Milev)

IP asset management : a business benefit

With the ever-growing competitiveness amongst different industries to develop effective business management protocols and strategies, Intellectual Property Asset management holds equal space in this arena. In fact business management compliments IP asset management in a way that both appears to be two sides of the same coin. Today most of the businesses across the globe understand the importance of effective IP asset management and IP monetization through royalties, licenses etc. In a nutshell, IP asset management covers various areas like  IP docketing,  Patent management, Invention disclosure management, IP due diligence, IP auditing, IP portfolio management , IP compliance management, and the list goes on. The crux of the matter is that no industry player wants to lag in the race of monetization. It is quite often seen that the technology-based companies comes out with umpteen inventions, which in turn replicate into to as many patents and trademarks. With a big list of Intellectual Property Portfolio , at times it becomes cumbersome to manage litigation details, licenses, royalties, cost estimations, maintenance reviews etc. 

To align your IP portfolio in a fair manner and to gain returns on your R&D investment, you definitely require an efficient IP asset management service. There are many IP management firms which are dedicated in providing your patent portfolio , a definite shape. Apart from that, there are many IP management software and SaaS ( Software as a Service) based applications, which provide real time support for effective IP asset management. For e.g. Anaqua, Thomson IP manager, Decipher and Lecorpio are all software or SaaS based applications which offer browser based IP asset management solutions. Therefore, industries based in any sector can enjoy the benefits of a well-coordinated IP asset management and thereby enhancing the overall business portfolio and business benefits.To conclude, it is very obvious that IP asset management is a perfect combo of business and IP going hand in hand. 

( Image by Svilen Milev)

Nortel Patent portfolio draws great interest amongst the bidders

The Nortel Patent auction , which is scheduled later this month, has managed to gather a massive interest amongst the prospective bidders and the buyers. Google Inc. has already set the starting bid at a whopping $900 million.Well the Patent and Asset management experts says that Nortel Patent Portfolio can successfully manage several billion dollars by offering a massive patent portfolio with 6000 patents which encompasses wide range of technologies employed in Wired or Wireless communication, Semiconductors , Social  and Data networking, Internet search etc.

The sales process is undertaken by a Chicago based law firm named Global IP Law Group. Well, this is definitely a big opportunity for just a two year old IP firm to start venturing into this terrain. Patents and other Intellectual property assets require a great deal of research and work to finally arrive at a money valuation that is substantial and in relevance with the market standards. The traditional methods of Pre and Post money valuations based on assets and market value of the securities or the companies,  cannot be equally applied in case of Intellectual Property like Patents. After all Patents are exclusive rights valid for a certain period of time within which the inventors or the creators can license such technologies for monetization.

 Apart from that, The Nortal Patent Polio offers great technologies based on next generation mobile data, which could be a plus point for the firms or companies based on telecommunication and IT based business models. Hence, the bid winner will certainly have a bright business future by gaining access to this patent portfolio.

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Crowdsourcing to solve patent issues

Crowdsourcing to solve patent issues goes back to 2008 when this buzz was created in the global online community. An American patent research company “Article One” has awarded about $1.3 million to its researchers for Crowdsourcing investigations related to “Prior Art” for the purpose of invalidating patents infringement claims made by various companies to sue the defendants. The latest being Macrosolve, which apparently sued Apple, Android and Blackberry apparel developers. Recently, US based companies Macrosolve and Lodsys  filed many infringement lawsuits against  Mobile App developers for using their patented technologies for the apparel purchases.

Article One Partners, a New York based company has crowdsouced the job for finding " Prior Art " to invalidate the infringement claims made by Macrosolve to sue Mobile App developers. It is evident that the recent surge in the patent infringement suits made in the Mobile App world, has left many small time Mobile App developers baffled since they do not have much to offer in terms of settlements, royalties and licenses, against such technology infringement claims.

 Alternatively, Article One has opened a vast opportunity for the global community to participate and unravel the prior art involved in the Macrosolve’s patent claims, in lieu of which it will award, the successful researchers cash prices worth $5,000 to $20,000 per study. As per Cheryl Milone , CEO of Article One Partners, in a statement to Guardian : "We believe the Article One model benefits more than just the clients. This Study is a prime example of how multiple parties can participate in solving a potentially costly problem. Application developers and the general public alike can join the search for prior art that impacts the burgeoning mobile app marketplace".

Well, all I can say is that Crowdsourcing has certainly been a great problem solving and cost effective way to approach the  global community of contractors. The foray of Crowdsourcing into patent prior art research will pave the way for many cost effective and technology oriented resources in the future. 

(Image by Sanja Gjenero)