We often see firms concentrating
on trendspotting the latest business fads and replicating popular innovations. Amidst
this it is equally crucial to eye on spotting the latest intellectual property
trends. “Licensing Out“ the patented technology is one such trend that has been
there for quite some time. Building a fruitful licensing program shall fall into the
“to do’s” list of all technology oriented firms. Regular check on updates, review and
assessment of agreements, terms and conditions can shape up a licensing program
to ensure better revenues and capture the essence of inherent Intellectual
Property value of the assets.
Another popular course is the IP
portfolio sale. In the recent times , patent sales have been one such phenomenon
that garnered the headlines. Whether it’s Kodak’s Digital Imaging patents sale,
Nortel’s telecommunication patent
portfolio sale or Motorola Mobility’s mobile and wireless patents sale, all
these firms have managed to generate appreciable revenues from their underlying
IP assets.
Patent Pooling is another such IP
trend where companies agree to cross-license their patents in a consortium
called patent pool. The prime vantage is the fact that you stop counter suing
each other! On a more serious note, Patent pooling is one potent IP strategy in
today’s competitive technology scenario where patents tend to have overlapping
and interconnected patent claims. Expensive litigation and costly follow ups
can strain the financial backbone of many firms. Patent pools, thus offer a
strategic solution in the light of abovementioned issues.
IP Mortgaging is another strategy
on the block. Patentees may use their patents, trademarks and
designs as a security or collateral for potential loans. Thus, maximizing the benefits
of their inherent IP assets. Trendspotting not only cast insights on the
current IP practices but also lay foundation of a strong IP program for your
organization. We hope the current
intellectual property trends continue to foster innovation, security and most
importantly the growth of IP assets.
(Image courtesy link)
(Image courtesy link)
