List of INNs released by Trademark office

International Nonproprietary Names ( INN) list has been released by the Trademark Registry of India. The list includes Non-Proprietary names of the Pharmaceutical substances along with the WHO publication reference. For our readers information, INNs are the generic names assigned to pharmaceutical substances by World Health Organization. INNs have worldwide acceptability and it is far easier to identify the pharmaceutical substances or ingredients based on such names. Since, these names are in public domain, and are non- proprietary, trademarks cannot be derived from them nor do they contain common stems used in INNs.The complete list could be accessed here .

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AIPLA Webinar 2012

For the readers who are inclined to learn about the strategic and business aspect of Intellectual Property, here is the opportunity for you. Following the AIA ( America Invents Act) effects on valuation, licensing and acquisition, AIPLA brings you a webinar on February 15, 2012. Registration details could be accessed here.

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Selling patent portfolio: A ray of hope

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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Valuate your IP timely

When we talk about tangible, brick or mortar assets, we have an estimate of the monetary value. In case of intangible assets like Intellectual Property, the valuation becomes challenging. Unlike tangible assets, Valuation of patents, brand trademarks, license agreements, copyrights and designs pose a great deal of strategic insight and analysis. A timely IP audit is an excellent way to keep track of your firm’s current IP portfolio and impart clear statistics to the IP valuation process.

While, there are many approaches adopted for an IP valuation, DCF method (Discounted cash flow) or the income based approach has been the most promising apart from the market and cost based approaches. IP valuation holds utmost importance for your firm when you undergo M&A, takeovers, patent sales, raising capital for start-ups, financial securitization, estimating damage claims, and collateralization, financial forecasting and licensing deals. In a nutshell, IP valuation gives you the monetary worth of your intangible business assets.

Since, IP is an integral part of your business assets, take wide measures to compute the right value of your projected portfolio. For start ups having right inventions or patents in their kitty, valuation by far is the most viable method to raise venture capital and angel funding based on the current worth of your intellectual property assets. Besides that, if you wish to sell or collateralize, IP valuation comes in handy. It is recommended for early technology based start ups and established firms to undergo well timed IP audits and valuate the worth of your intangible assets portfolio.  

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Summing up the last year

Patfrigate wishes all our blog readers, a Happy and Prosperous year ahead. Last year has been full of surprises, new laws, IP arguments, statistics and the list goes on.We hope, Patfrigate continues to provide the right amount of support and solutions to your firm's IP needs. Devising Intellectual Property strategies, analyzing IP portfolios and providing a complete gamut of IP solutions has been our motto and we will continue to work diligently. Our blog readers have been extremely supportive and we aim to provide you more global updates & IP insights during the coming year. Till then, stay healthy and stay updated!

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Prior Art search : An important link

The entire procedure for attaining a patent, starting from conceptualizing your idea, writing down those crucial points, filing patent applications, answering office responses, etc. Did I miss anything? Yes, the missing link is thoroughly conducted “Prior Art” research.  Many a times, an Inventor often overlook that important aspect thinking his innovation being the pioneer in the field and one of its kind. The result is no Patent granted ,infringing claims or multiple amendments in the claims structure. In all the cases, your prospect of attaining a Patent seems dodgy.

The idea behind a Prior Art search is to negate all those possibilities which could hamper the approval of your patent application. Imagine your latest invention comprise of certain features (if not all) which are already patented a year back or may be already disclosed in a peer review journal. You, as an Inventor have no idea where does this enter into picture. Anyways, there is not much left for you now but to carefully amend the claims of your application or carry on answering the multiple office actions. In the entire process, you lose precious time and intellectual energy while making futile permutations and combination.  To be more precise, time is money, can you afford to lose it.  

As an IP strategist, I have always advised individual inventors and start ups to pay crucial attention to this foundation point. There is absolutely no point in running a prior art research after filing your patent applications. Prior Art forms the base of the pyramid, a well conducted prior art search report can help an inventor to draft the most appropriate set of claims in the patent application. Besides that, it enables an inventor to possess a complete knowledge of existing and pending patent technology domains and freedom to operate space. As said before, it saves your time and intellectual energy. Eventually, I hope you find it useful to implement!  

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Do Patents add Economic Moat

While most of the start ups are busy devising a firm patent portfolio, have you realized how a potent patent portfolio can add the maximum economic moat to your start up business. For those who aren’t aware of the term:  “Economic moat” refers to competitive advantage of a business over others.  Angels and VCs are likely to invest in the business showing wide economic moat.  Keeping this in mind, a start up entrepreneur can add substantial economic moat by attaining IP rights conferred by Patents, Trademarks , Copyrights and Designs.

 The early stage start ups find it difficult with limited budget to accommodate for attorney’s fee, filing fee, responding to office actions and this could deter many young entrepreneurs from building a potent IP portfolio in the nascent stages. But trust me, if you manage to pass this stage, you won’t regret later. The economic benefit that a well constructed IP portfolio confers is far more than the initial investment. For a start up it is imperative to gain competitive advantage after bringing the idea to the market. A well constructed IP portfolio enables a start up to validate and position their idea considerably, thus, adding an adequate economic moat to the business. All in all, it’s the survival of the fittest and if you wish your start up to prosper, add the right mix of nutrients! 

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