To this point, we have discussed the importance of IP and the high level questions a Board of Directors should ask Management about the company’s intellectual property. These questions cover a wide range, believe it or not. It’s never so simple as simply knowing which patents the company holds, though many Boards leave even that much to the IP lawyers. First, there’s the deep dive into research and development, which questions such as:
Categories: Patent Management Process, IP Management, Patent Strategy, M&A, Boards of Directors
Understanding how efficient the Company is in generating and capturing inventions is one measure but boards of directors should be asking if the Company is patenting the right things, i.e., what is the Company’s intellectual property strategy?
Active programs for selling patents—particularly in large businesses—weren’t really in use until recent years. This may have been due to lack of inventory control, in which case companies simply didn’t have a solid understanding of what they owned, or a lack of business management, in which case the company had no real understanding of the business applications possible with intellectual property.
With the holidays upon us, what is it most IP owners are wishing for? To be top in their industry? To help encourage progression within the industry? For some, it’s nothing more than getting their patent accepted. Of course, there are ways around that, so keep reading.
Categories: Patent Strategy, Patent News
How many companies in the past probably wished they’d had a crystal ball to tell them what was coming? We’ve already talked about Blockbuster and how they might have weathered the Netflix storm with a little bit of forewarning. What about Kodak? Wouldn’t a session with a psychic have changed the course of history for the film giant?
In the innovation consulting world, a technology landscape is like the “It Girl” of the year. Companies all over the world offer technology landscapes as a product—something you pay money for once and receive only that. And, like that weird thing you bought “as seen on TV,” it doesn’t always come with instructions.
If you could get a preview into what your biggest competitor was planning, wouldn’t you take that opportunity? Too many companies either have no idea they can see everything their competitors are patenting or they don’t realize how helpful that information can be.
Even now, years after Elon Musk made the announcement that Tesla would not pursue litigation for anyone who used Tesla patents in good faith, people still don’t know how to react. How could anyone give up that kind of power? Isn’t the point of a patent to enjoy some form of monopoly on the industry?
Categories: IP Innovation, Patent Strategy
It’s true that spontaneous innovation often results in revolutionary ideas. Without freedom to brainstorm, the wheel, the car, Internet calling, digital cameras, and Netflix might not exist. This is often where truly disruptive ideas emerge—ideas that could change the face of business.
