There has been a recent buzz about Kodak’s patent portfolio sale. After filing bankruptcy yesterday, Kodak – a Rochester based company, aims at selling and licensing its patent portfolio with a whopping 1,100 digital imaging patents. Valuation experts estimate the portfolio worth $2.6 billion. While companies are striving for maintaining cash flows and operating profits, there are chances when you lose priority of your existing patent portfolio. Interestingly, in case of Kodak (which reportedly registered the first trademark in 1888), the robust digital imaging patent portfolio has been a large asset to the company.
Kodak, already filed lawsuits against Apple and RIM in 2010 for infringing upon their digital imaging technology patents. The emerging assessment is the fact that it is highly essential for businesses worldwide to drive maximum advantage of their IP portfolio.You can monetize by selling, licensing, cross- licensing, franchising your IP assets depending on your business requirements and global reach. Looking at the case of Kodak’s bankruptcy, the sale or licensing of a well structured, robust patent portfolio is proving to be a ray of hope. This is definitely a survival strategy and patent portfolio has imparted maximum contribution here. We hope, from now onwards, fellow entrepreneurs and businesses start taking their IP portfolio more seriously!
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