This feed contains intellectual property blog articles and news updates written by ipCG's IP strategy experts. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=ipblog Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:45:00 EST webmaster@ipcg.com (Ted Anderson) Final implementation of the AIA has changed the race track substantially. Companies will have to adjust in order to win the new race to the patent office. ipCG's cutting-edge ipAIA(SM) services are designed to let our clients dramatically shorten the time between conceiving an invention and filing the patent application. A client company will run-not walk-to the patent office. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=First-Inventor-to-File_is_Here http://www.ipcg.com/?file=First-Inventor-to-File_is_Here Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:45:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story), chuffines@ipcg.com (Chris Huffines) In our October 15th blog post 'Don't Forget About the "Rembrandt in the Attic"?', we discussed how a failure to think strategically about IP may have been a overlooked factor in the financial collapse of Digital Domain Media Group (DDMG). DDMG as debtor in possession has now sought court approval to sell the 3D patents along with the company's remaining assets. The assets will be auctioned in separate groups, with the six granted 3D patents and two applications sold as one group. For any parties considering making a bid for the 3D patents, one essential question must be asked: how much are these patents worth? http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Rembrandts_for_Sale http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Rembrandts_for_Sale Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:10:00 EST Intellectual Property nedwards@ipcg.com (Nancy Edwards Cronin), ndoudera@ipcg.com (Nathan Doudera) The recently concluded and highly publicized patent infringement trial between Apple and Samsung was significant because design patents have long been seen as less valuable and less strategic than utility patents. In reality, design patents do have strategic value, especially when used within the context of an overall IP strategy. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Design_Patents_IP_Strategy http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Design_Patents_IP_Strategy Tue, 30 Oct 2012 13:25:00 EST Intellectual Property jkunz@ipcg.com (Justin Kunz), ndoudera@ipcg.com (Nathan Doudera) Over the past year, ipCapital Group has seen a dramatic increase in requests to value IP portfolios. The engagements range from advising on high-profile deals to supporting capital raises for small, private companies who have few assets other than IP. We continue to use these experiences and lessons as feedback to our methodology, which is critical as the landscape evolves. In our latest video, we highlight a few of those lessons. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=What_is_your_IP_and_technology_worth http://www.ipcg.com/?file=What_is_your_IP_and_technology_worth Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:15:00 EST Intellectual Property abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski) The case of DDMG is not unique; IP mismanagement is pervasive throughout the media and entertainment industry. For a number of reasons, companies often fail to recognize the value of their intellectual assets, and the business continues to move forward while the IP strategy does not. When companies start to consider IP in the face of a crisis, be it bankruptcy or an infringement lawsuit, it is too late to go back and reap the benefit of their creative thinking and innovation. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Dont_Forget_Rembrandt http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Dont_Forget_Rembrandt Mon, 15 Oct 2012 08:55:00 EST Intellectual Property nedwards@ipcg.com (Nancy Edwards Cronin), ndoudera@ipcg.com (Nathan Doudera) In February, Alcatel Lucent (ALU) initiated a corporate restructuring that included plans to license almost 9,000 U.S. patents. The license project was recently cancelled, because the assets have generated no cash over the past seven months. So, what’s next? Maybe an auction? If the quality and strength of these patents matches or exceeds competitor portfolios, then maybe now is the right time to establish a long equity position. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Time_to_go_long http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Time_to_go_long Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:24:00 EST Intellectual Property enesbitt@ipcg.com (Betsy Nesbitt) For patents specifically, the best IP strategy for China balances the use of both Utility Model and Invention patents. For a comprehensive IP strategy, foreign companies should not just look at the term of protection and assume that Invention patents offer all the protection they need. Companies should use the full range of IP protections including not just patents but also trade secrets and know-how, black boxes, and defensive publications. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Strategies_for_Filing_Patents_in_China http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Strategies_for_Filing_Patents_in_China Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:28:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story), ndoudera@ipcg.com (Nathan Doudera) 3D printing is one emerging technology field with the potential to create significant—perhaps even extreme—practical and legal consequences. Innovators and manufacturers need to be ready to use all the protections offered by the different forms of intellectual property to protect their assets and businesses. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Protection_Challenges_of_3D_Printing http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Protection_Challenges_of_3D_Printing Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:05:00 EST Intellectual Property chuffines@ipcg.com (Chris Huffines) On June 27th, Nancy Edwards Cronin presented at the Society of Concurrent Product Development conference in St. Paul, on “Leveraging IP Practices to Enhance Innovation.” After the presentation Jennifer Petersen interviewed Nancy on some key aspects of the presentation and asked additional questions about innovation and IP. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=events#Nancy_Cronin_SCPD http://www.ipcg.com/?file=events#Nancy_Cronin_SCPD Thu, 26 Jul 2012 07:18:00 EST Intellectual Property nedwards@ipcg.com (Nancy Edwards Cronin) Is your business strategy aligned with the current market? Or, are you exhausting resources on innovations for a bygone market opportunity? Reboot your innovation strategy with a broader perspective. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Reboot_Your_Innovation_Strategy http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Reboot_Your_Innovation_Strategy Wed, 25 Jul 2012 17:45:00 EST Intellectual Property abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski) The rise in the prevalence of technology and patent filings in the car rental industry is creating the possibility of an industry disruption due to intellectual property. Car rental companies that acknowledge and prepare for the increasing importance of IP will stand to benefit, while companies that ignore the importance of IP will suffer. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Rental_Car_Industry_and_IP http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Rental_Car_Industry_and_IP Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:20:00 EST Intellectual Property jcronin@ipcg.com (John Cronin), ndoudera@ipcg.com (Nathan Doudera) As the commencement date of the UK Patent Box initiative approaches (April 2013), eligible businesses need to begin thinking about what their current baseline looks like in regards to their existing IP portfolio. By establishing an initial patent to product mapping inventory and setting up a formal process for ongoing management, businesses can maximize the near and long term benefits of the Patent Box initiative. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Patent_Box_Baseline http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Patent_Box_Baseline Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:30:00 EST Intellectual Property btaylor@ipcg.com (Ben Taylor), cbarrette@ipcg.com (Cody Barrette) This final article in a series of five on barriers to innovation and IP creation explores ideas for overcoming having no resources or budget. Learn how an effective “ROI story,” communicated to executives, can help you obtain dedicated budget to invest in staff, infrastructure, and tools needed to drive your innovation and IP initiatives. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Overcoming_Barriers_Pt_5 http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Overcoming_Barriers_Pt_5 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 08:02:00 EST Intellectual Property jcahill@ipcg.com (Jed Cahill) The Patent Box initiative is an exciting offering for businesses operating in the UK; one that can provide significant long term technical, business, and financial value. By considering the implications of the Patent Box program now, businesses will be able to put in place the necessary processes to measure, communicate, and build a sustainable IP program supportive of this initiative. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Patent_Box_Initiative http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Patent_Box_Initiative Mon, 18 Jun 2012 15:58:00 EST Intellectual Property btaylor@ipcg.com (Ben Taylor) As a follow-up to the recent M&A post, this article examines common IP-related drivers of ROI, from the perspective of an investor, such as a private equity firm. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IPs_impact_ROI http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IPs_impact_ROI Wed, 13 Jun 2012 08:04:00 EST Intellectual Property abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski) Inorganic growth strategies through M&A don't always account for the potential of intangible assets. M&A teams that consider IP and other intangible assets both before and after a deal can improve success with more accurate pricing and more efficient value extraction. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_and_M_A Success http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_and_M_A Success Thu, 07 Jun 2012 08:35:00 EST Intellectual Property abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski) Making the decision to invest in patented technology requires a manager to map and evaluate a series of decisions and uncertainties. Real options pricing can enhance IP valuations in situations where key assumptions regarding market, financial, and technology variables are identified and estimated with reasonable accuracy. When coupled with the income and other valuation approaches, such as comparable market transactions, options thinking can guide financial and strategic decision making. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Valuations:_IP_Decision_Real_Option http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Valuations:_IP_Decision_Real_Option Fri, 25 May 2012 08:09:00 EST Intellectual Property abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski), enesbitt@ipcg.com (Betsy Nesbitt) Having a dedicated innovation or IP leader responsible for managing execution according to a documented process is essential for putting strategy into action. But even a well-defined strategy and process and won’t run itself. People make the strategy go. So, how can you help your organization motivate action by the teams and individuals needed to achieve your innovation and IP goals? How can you incentivize value creation? http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Overcoming_Barriers_Pt_4 http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Overcoming_Barriers_Pt_4 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:03:00 EST Intellectual Property jcahill@ipcg.com (Jed Cahill) Last week, Microsoft paid $1.06B to purchase and license about 1,100 AOL patents. Putting the issues of purchase premium and strategy aside for another discussion, this transaction presents an interesting case on IP value expectations and communications. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Investors_and_Patent_Value http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Investors_and_Patent_Value Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:20:00 EST Intellectual Property abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski) Great innovation is not just about great ideas. To get new ideas off the ground, you need executive buy-in and funding. You can increase the likelihood of success by building the executive buy-in for the innovation process, and by knowing what the CEO and other stakeholders are seeking in order to approve and fund your ideas. Here's how you can find great new ideas and establish rigor in the process that will win support and funding. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Find_Great_Ideas http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Find_Great_Ideas Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:17:00 EST Intellectual Property kshore@ipcg.com (Kate Shore) Companies buy and sell intellectual property (IP), including patented technology, in all industries, ranging from high-tech products like semiconductors to relatively lower-tech products like non-durable consumer goods. Businesses can take advantage of these often fast-moving opportunities if they have the appropriate IP valuation tools. These tools are particularly important when market and technology uncertainties are highand managers need to model different market scenarios. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Valuation_Non-Durable http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Valuation_Non-Durable Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:11:00 EST Intellectual Property enesbitt@ipcg.com (Betsy Nesbitt) SOPA, PIPA, RIAA, MPAA. In certain corners of the Internet, these are not just 4-letter acronyms, but 4-letter words. What is most striking about the conflict over digital piracy is the incredible level of hostility the copyright holders and their defenders, including the Recording Industry Association of America and Motion Picture Association of America, have generated. Patent holders and their defenders should take note: you are next. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Cautionary_Copyright_Tale http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Cautionary_Copyright_Tale Tue, 28 Feb 2012 08:07:00 EST Intellectual Property chuffines@ipcg.com (Chris Huffines) Serco, a FTSE-100 outsourcing company based in the UK, operates contact centers for a large, FTSE 100 broadband provider, who was seeking to raise the level of performance for customer service. ipCG's innovation process was used to discover and prioritize 300 innovation ideas toward this objective. Just three months after the process began, Serco's performance on handling customer complaints moved to the top of the client's supplier performance table. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Innovation_Customer_Service http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Innovation_Customer_Service Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:10:00 EST Intellectual Property kshore@ipcg.com (Kate Shore) Strategy is only as valuable as your ability to execute - an imperfect strategy that is well executed will generate much higher returns than a glossy white paper strategy that is poorly executed. So, how can you help your organization turn innovation and IP strategy into business value? This third article in a series of five on this subject explores ideas for overcoming the barrier of having no defined process. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Overcoming_Barriers_Pt_3 http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Overcoming_Barriers_Pt_3 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:15:00 EST Intellectual Property jcahill@ipcg.com (Jed Cahill) Looking back on 2011, we've pulled together the top five most read articles from the ipCG blog during the year. While we covered many topics, including a series on IP strategy execution, open innovation, and the impact of new patent legislations, the topics of most interest to readers were IAM best practices for SMEs, understanding patent valuation, and filing strategies for design patents and China. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Top_5_2011 http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Top_5_2011 Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:10:00 EST Intellectual Property kshore@ipcg.com (Kate Shore) Establishing a clear direction for innovation and IP creation starts with consensus on an overall corporate strategy that defines the vision, specific business goals, and tactical actions that serve the vision and goals. Unfortunately, Executive and Board level consensus on the strategy is not enough. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Overcoming_Barriers_Pt_2 http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Overcoming_Barriers_Pt_2 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:10:00 EST Intellectual Property jcahill@ipcg.com (Jed Cahill) Over the past two years, ipCG completed several IP valuations in the IT industry. In most cases, our clients contracted the models for external purposes - to estimate IP value for M&A negotiations. However, work products generated significant internal benefits as well. We share this case study with you to demonstrate the many strategic and managerial insights that can be gleaned from thoughtful IP valuations. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Valuation_IT_Industry http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Valuation_IT_Industry Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:45:00 EST Intellectual Property abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski), enesbitt@ipcg.com (Betsy Nesbitt) No new typewriters will be produced in 2012. The last production line closed down just this past year. On the one hand, this shows quite poignantly why innovation is important, on the other hand, it shows that destructive innovation is not something that happens in a flash. So, how do you know if your product is a typewriter? Do you have a plan? http://www.ipcg.com/?file=New_Year_New_Strategy http://www.ipcg.com/?file=New_Year_New_Strategy Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:15:00 EST Intellectual Property Ben Little (blittle@ipcg.com) The 25% rule is a rule of thumb used to estimate royalty rates for intellectual property (IP) licensing transactions by approximating the risk/reward relationship between a licensee and licensor. A licensee only pays a portion of profits to the licensor, because of the additional costs and uncertainties that it incurs to convert the technology in to revenue. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=25_Percent_Rule http://www.ipcg.com/?file=25_Percent_Rule Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:10:00 EST Intellectual Property abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski), enesbitt@ipcg.com (Betsy Nesbitt) ipCapital Group is excited to announce the addition of Elizabeth (Betsy) Nesbitt to our team. Betsy works primarily on ipCG valuation engagements, where she conducts market research and builds financial models to assess the value of patents and other forms of intellectual property. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=ipCG_Welcomes_Nesbitt http://www.ipcg.com/?file=ipCG_Welcomes_Nesbitt Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:40:00 EST Intellectual Property info@ipcg.com (ipCG Team) SMEs are often in a risky position of not having access to professional advice or formal training about intellectual property (IP), and therefore can unknowingly handicap themselves in whether or how they use IP. As a starting point, here are the 10 things every SME should know about IP. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Top_10_Things_SMEs_Need http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Top_10_Things_SMEs_Need Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:15:00 EST Intellectual Property kshore@ipcg.com (Kate Shore) The innovation and IP leader who is able to overcome the barriers has an opportunity to advance the company's competitive position with better products and services, faster time to market, more efficient operations, stronger IP, and the resilience necessary to respond to rapidly changing market conditions and critical business problems. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Overcoming_Barriers http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Overcoming_Barriers Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST Intellectual Property jcahill@ipcg.com (Jed Cahill) The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) recently signed into law by president Obama represents the most substantial modification to the U.S. patent system in the past fifty years, and most notably, changes the U.S. system from a "first to invent" to a "first to file" system. These new rules will undoubtedly cause companies to re-think their intellectual property (IP) strategy and re-tool their IP process. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=AIA_Effect_on_NPE_Tactics http://www.ipcg.com/?file=AIA_Effect_on_NPE_Tactics Fri, 2 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST Intellectual Property jcronin@ipcg.com (John Cronin), bpetrow@ipcg.com (Bill Petrow) ipCapital Group is pleased to announce the addition of Chris Huffines to our team. Chris works primarily with ipCG strategic partners on projects such as technical patent mapping and prior art analysis. He is especially active in the areas of telecom analysis and in reviewing the changes to the patent system stemming from the America Invents Act. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=ipCG_Welcomes_Huffines http://www.ipcg.com/?file=ipCG_Welcomes_Huffines Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST Intellectual Property info@ipcg.com (ipCG Team) Business strategy boils down to choices, with the ultimate goal of maximizing firm profits. The firm plans its activities, e.g. operations, marketing, finance, R&D, to support its business strategy. However, few firms use IP strategically by aligning IP activities with their business goals. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Linking_IP_Strategy_and_Profitability http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Linking_IP_Strategy_and_Profitability Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:45:00 EST Intellectual Property abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski) In formulating its business strategy, a firm analyzes both its external environment and its internal composition. Externally, the firm studies the structure of the industry in which it competes, identifies market opportunities and threats, and researches social, political, technical, and economic trends. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Linking_IP http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Linking_IP Mon, 3 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST Intellectual Property abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski) Whether used simply for enhancement of brand, developed and sold as a new product, or licensed to film industry companies or studios, Hollywood inventions are being missed. These missed inventions are wasted opportunities for studios and companies involved to increase their revenue based on creative thinking - ironically, the lifeblood of the film industry. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Hollywood_IP http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Hollywood_IP Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:20:00 EST Intellectual Property nedwards@ipcg.com (Nancy Edwards Cronin) In the September issue of Intellectual Property Magazine, Kate Shore discusses how to address IP issues before the relationship to help create a culture of co-invention and collaboration, how to rev up your innovation engine to generate many potential inventions, and ways to maximize the value of the inventions created for both parties. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=How_to_Encourage http://www.ipcg.com/?file=How_to_Encourage Thu, 8 Sep 2011 20:15:00 EST Intellectual Property kshore@ipcg.com (Kate Shore) If you are like most technology managers, you know you have trade secrets in the organization, but you don't know what they are. You know you have to protect "them" from loss, but what are "they"? http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Missing_Trade http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Missing_Trade Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:45:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story) If your R&D department is like most, you have very creative people working diligently to solve problems. However, you may wonder why you don’t see more invention disclosures coming from such bright, creative people. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Missing_Inventions http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Missing_Inventions Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story) Risk factoring is critical to developing valuation models that work. By investing the time needed to develop thorough and effective risk adjusted valuation models, you significantly increase the potential that you will actually achieve the projected return on investment for your technology acquisition and make better, more informed business decisions. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=How_to_Adjust_a_Targets_Valuation_for_Risk http://www.ipcg.com/?file=How_to_Adjust_a_Targets_Valuation_for_Risk Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:45:00 EST Intellectual Property rschwartz@ipcg.com (Rachael Schwartz) Comparables are vital to determining what the market would likely pay for a company, technology, or Intellectual Property (IP) asset. While the market value is not necessarily what the asset is worth to your company, it gives you an idea of what competitors may be willing to pay and can provide insight that will inform your bidding strategy. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Know_What_to_Pay http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Know_What_to_Pay Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:45:00 EST Intellectual Property rschwartz@ipcg.com (Rachael Schwartz) A Triangulation Approach to valuation looks at value in three ways: 1) modeling the value that the technology and IP provides for your company's intended use; 2) reviewing, risk-adjusting and use-adjusting the target's valuation, and 3) understanding market comparables. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=A_Triangulation_Approach_to_Valuation http://www.ipcg.com/?file=A_Triangulation_Approach_to_Valuation Thu, 26 May 2011 13:00:00 EST Intellectual Property rschwartz@ipcg.com (Rachael Schwartz) As has been shown, ICM processes are needed to successfully execute the IP strategy. If a company does not have all the processes needed, or needs to improve their processes they typically call upon outside experts in the field to help. This can be very helpful by comparing with best practices in the industry. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Sustaining_the_IP_Strategy_Execution_Process http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Sustaining_the_IP_Strategy_Execution_Process Fri, 13 May 2011 16:30:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story) The value of any IP is dependent on the context. Valuation of the IP in context and targeted marketing is important to gain returns on the licensing effort. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Measuring_and_Extracting_IP_Value http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Measuring_and_Extracting_IP_Value Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:15:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story) Organizations that do not use the IP strategy reviewing process generally file patent applications on everything that is deemed patentable coming from the research and development staff. There is no one "minding the store" to ensure that the IP strategy is followed. This is a very expensive way to create a low-value patent portfolio! http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Reviewing_IP_Strategy http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Reviewing_IP_Strategy Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story) Documenting is an important step on the path to successful execution of IP strategy, however inventors are often more interested in solving technical problems and inventing than in documenting their inventions. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=ipBlog_Documenting http://www.ipcg.com/?file=ipBlog_Documenting Fri, 18 Mar 2011 07:15:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story) Facilitating invention, acquiring technology and IP from outside the company, and inventing around patents are key processes for creating and acquiring IP. Many companies have adopted the best practices of conducting proactive invention extraction sessions and directed invention brainstorming. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Creating_and_Acquiring_IP http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Creating_and_Acquiring_IP Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:15:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story) All the Intellectual Capital Management (ICM) processes focus on implementing IP strategy. The strategy must clearly articulate what the desired business objective is and how IP supports that. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Planning_and_Motivating_IP_Strategy http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Planning_and_Motivating_IP_Strategy Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:45:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story) The first step in implementing IP strategy is to thoroughly evaluate which processes you have that are working well and which processes are absent or are not yielding the desired results. It is important for a company to consider the best practices used by other IP leaders, both inside the company’s industry as well as in other industries. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Strategy_Execution_and_Process_Implementation http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Strategy_Execution_and_Process_Implementation Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:45:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story) To achieve value effectively, IP-savvy companies have learned to create business-aligned IP strategies. The IP strategy must be integral to the business strategy to create maximum value. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Value_of_a_Business-Driven_IP_Strategy http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Value_of_a_Business-Driven_IP_Strategy Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:15:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story) Imagine this scenario: You spend the tens of thousands of dollars to bring a product to market, and patent-protect it. Within days of your product's release, the device has been scanned (via a 3D printer add-on that cost only $200), its dimensions transformed into computer code, and that code transmitted across the globe via the internet. Thousands of people with 3D printers can then take this pirated information and create exact copies of your device in their homes. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Instant_Intellectual_Property_Violations http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Instant_Intellectual_Property_Violations Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:19:00 EST Intellectual Property croot@ipcg.com (Charles Root) The newly published USPTO 2010-2015 Strategic Plan is the first strategic document from the USPTO that demonstrates that someone who has used IP as a global business asset is in charge! No wonder, as the new Director of the USPTO, David Kappos, comes with 20 years of experience managing IP at IBM. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Business_Interests_are_Finally_a_Focus_at_the_USPTO http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Business_Interests_are_Finally_a_Focus_at_the_USPTO Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:57:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story) False patent marking has become a hot topic recently as case law around patent marking on products and recent legal developments have created a lucrative opportunity with very low barriers to entry. More than 100 cases have been filed so far in 2010 and new cases are being filed daily. ipCG has some suggestions on how your company might respond. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Recent_Uproar_around_False_Patent_Marking http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Recent_Uproar_around_False_Patent_Marking Fri, 02 Apr 2010 10:25:00 EST Intellectual Property kshore@ipcg.com (Kate Shore), sbharucha@ipcg.com (Sarju Bharucha) Design patents are a form of IP that should be considered by all industries as their strategic use, in conjunction with utility patents and other forms of IP, can strengthen and enhance the value of a company's IP portfolio and brand. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=The_Strategic_Use_of_Design_Patents http://www.ipcg.com/?file=The_Strategic_Use_of_Design_Patents Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:35:00 EST Intellectual Property sbharucha@ipcg.com (Sarju Bharucha), btaylor@ipcg.com (Ben Taylor) Good preparation for a patent search can lead to successful and effective patent analysis, whereas the lack of preparation can lead to the disappointed stakeholders, missed IP opportunities, or wasted time. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Degrees_of_Patent_Analysis http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Degrees_of_Patent_Analysis Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:45:00 EST Intellectual Property kshore@ipcg.com (Kate Shore), sbharucha@ipcg.com (Sarju Bharucha) Intellectual property (IP), such as a patent portfolio, is a critical intangible asset for innovative companies. However, IP presents management and communication challenges because few companies catalog their IP strategically or link its development to value creation, i.e. increased revenues or decreased costs. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Measuring_Managing_and_Communicating_Intangible_Asset_Value http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Measuring_Managing_and_Communicating_Intangible_Asset_Value Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST Intellectual Property abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski) Whether a company uses its IP offensively or defensively, a company's investment in IP strategy can be implemented cost-effectively in both the short and long term. Four practices to consider are: an IP portfolio audit, strategic foreign filings, defensive publications, and strategic portfolio development. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Cost-Effective_IP_Strategy_Investment http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Cost-Effective_IP_Strategy_Investment Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:45:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story), abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski) "It is only a matter of time before the integration of IP and product development becomes part of the mainstream business process. Companies have to decide whether they want to be leaders or laggards as this happens." John Cronin, Managing Director and Chairman of ipCG, and Brad Goldense President and CEO of Goldense Group, Inc. are the authors of "Integral IAM and new product processes are the future," published in the November/December 2009 issue of IAM Magazine. Their article stresses the importance of becoming an early adopter to the growing trend of merging intellectual property and business goals. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Integrating_NPD_IAM_and_IP http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Integrating_NPD_IAM_and_IP Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:20:00 EST Intellectual Property jcahill@ipcg.com (Jed Cahill), tanderson@ipcg.com (Ted Anderson) Recent WSJ and HBR articles argue that multinationals must learn a decentralized, local-market model of innovation, termed "reverse innovation," to drive their future growth. In this model, each local business unit (LBU) sets its own business strategy and develops products tailored to traditionally underserved markets. However, thus far none of the articles or commentary appears to address the important issue of intellectual property (IP) protection in reverse innovation. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Strategy_for_Reverse_Innovation http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Strategy_for_Reverse_Innovation Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST Intellectual Property abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski) If you are attending, be sure and stop by one of the workshops in which ipCG is partnering to speak at LES with other companies. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=ipCapital_Group_speaking_at_the_Licensing_Executive_Society http://www.ipcg.com/?file=ipCapital_Group_speaking_at_the_Licensing_Executive_Society Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:55:00 EST Intellectual Property nedwards@ipcg.com (Nancy Edwards Cronin) ipCG is pleased to announce the release of its first iPhone(TM) application, the Ah Ha!(TM) Discovery Deck, which is an electronic version of a brainstorming and creativity tool that ipCG has been using for years with clients. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=ipCapital_Group_Releases_iPhone_Application http://www.ipcg.com/?file=ipCapital_Group_Releases_iPhone_Application Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST Intellectual Property btaylor@ipcg.com (Ben Taylor) If you expect mobile applications will become an established channel of communication for your business, you should consider implementing a formal strategy to guide the development process, from generation ideas to prototype creation to selection of best mode of IP protection. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Mobile_Device_Applications_and_IP http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Mobile_Device_Applications_and_IP Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST Intellectual Property btaylor@ipcg.com (Ben Taylor) Small companies can face large financial hurdles on the way to securing intellectual property (IP) protection, particularly with patents. Accumulated patent lifecycle costs can exceed $125,000 for one US and one PCT filing. This cost may include prior art searching, patent drafting, patent prosecution, and maintenance fees. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IAM_Best_Practices_for_Small_Companies http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IAM_Best_Practices_for_Small_Companies Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST Intellectual Property nedwards@ipcg.com (Nancy Cronin), abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski), sbharucha@ipcg.com (Sarju Bharucha) IP valuation is complicated by a host of factors, such as accessing market comparables, determining IP risk, handicapping potential licensees, and calculating the uncertain economic benefits to be generated by IP assets. While many sources enumerate methods of IP valuation, few provide real-life applications or guidelines. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_licensing_value_expectations http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_licensing_value_expectations Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST Intellectual Property abulakowski@ipcg.com (Adam Bulakowski) Telecom companies large and small will reduce costs by out-sourcing more processes, reducing headcount, and generally reaffirming focus on core markets and technologies. The cost-cutting conversation for many will eventually turn to intellectual property (IP), and rightly so. There is opportunity for many thousands or millions of dollars in value creation by reducing costs and increasing revenue through strategic management of IP. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Weathering_the_Economic_Storm_in_Telecom http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Weathering_the_Economic_Storm_in_Telecom Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST Intellectual Property crose@ipcg.com (Chris Rose), jcahill@ipcg.com (Jed Cahill) The development and management of IP is an art, not a science. Of all corporate job functions, only IP attorneys receive formal training related to IP, but just related to the legal side of intellectual property. More comprehensive training is needed... http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Training http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Training Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:20:00 EST Intellectual Property kshore@ipcg.com (Kate Shore) All companies are susceptible to disruption - across all industries, at every scale, and in both strong and weak players. IP plays a key role in disruption - it is both a means for identifying it and protection against it. Make sure that you are ready when disruption comes galloping your way! http://www.ipcg.com/?file=The_Disruptions_are_Coming http://www.ipcg.com/?file=The_Disruptions_are_Coming Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:20:00 EST Intellectual Property kshore@ipcg.com (Kate Shore) Innovation is the lifeblood of consumer products companies, as they strive to stay ahead of competitors, respond to evolving customer needs, and manage other market pressures. Products typically have short timelines for development, design, and marketing and high corporate expectations for sales. Getting products to the market is just the first step in a long process. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Consumer_Products http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Consumer_Products Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST Intellectual Property kshore@ipcg.com (Kate Shore) Any company that files patents as part of its intellectual property (IP) strategy should be actively thinking about the end use of these assets. In order to maximize business leverage, a patent holder must be able to demonstrate that a third party is using or may have a desire to use the patented invention. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Grow_Patent_Quality_with_Reverse_Engineering_in_Mind http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Grow_Patent_Quality_with_Reverse_Engineering_in_Mind Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:35:00 EST Intellectual Property jcahill@ipcg.com (Jed Cahill) Is your company planning to layoff employees in response to a tougher economic environment? Do you have a process for preventing valuable intellectual assets from walking out the door along with your exiting employees? http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Minimize_IP_Loss_When_Downsizing http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Minimize_IP_Loss_When_Downsizing Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:05:00 EST Intellectual Property jcahill@ipcg.com (Jed Cahill) A valuation of a company's patent portfolio or of a specific group of patents is important in helping the company to determine the value of its portfolio in a licensing transaction or in the sale of the company. It is important for companies to understand the drivers of value within their portfolios and to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the portfolios. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Valuation http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Valuation Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:53:00 EST Intellectual Property rschwartz@ipcg.com (Rachael Schwartz) Companies engage in strategic planning to lay out a path to success in various areas of business. In strategic planning, achievement of milestones and progress toward goals are assessed using a variety of metrics, both quantitative and qualitative. A refined set of those metrics may be designated for use as key performance indicators (KPIs). http://www.ipcg.com/?file=ipCG_Benchmarking_Survey http://www.ipcg.com/?file=ipCG_Benchmarking_Survey Tue, 26 May 2009 17:40:00 EST Intellectual Property kshore@ipcg.com (Kate Shore) There is a lot in the news about IP piracy and counterfeiting in China. This may cause you to be indecisive about whether or not it is important to file patents there. It is also very clear from the numerous analytics work we have done in almost every industry that only a handful of companies have a clear filing strategy. Many of our clients ask us what they should do. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Should_I_File_Patents_in_China http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Should_I_File_Patents_in_China Wed, 20 May 2009 10:15:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story) In a recent article, "Is the recession suffocating American Innovation?," Deb Riechmann of the Associated Press describes some trends that may be negatively impacting the success of innovation in the US. There has been a decline in the new patent applications at the US Patent and Trademark Office because some companies... http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Innovation_Protection_Through_IP_Strategy http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Innovation_Protection_Through_IP_Strategy Tue, 12 May 2009 10:10:00 EST Intellectual Property bstory@ipcg.com (Bruce Story) The telecommunications industry continues to evolve. Competitive threats come from the least likely sources. Technology continues to create new business models and disrupt the old. Network convergence may shift the balance of power. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Telecommunications http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Telecommunications Tue, 05 May 2009 13:25:00 EST Intellectual Property droth@ipcg.com (Douglas Roth) In Vijay Govindarajan's blog, "Strategy and Innovation," his April 12th entry responds to a recent BusinessWeek article, "Is Innovation Too Costly in Hard Times?" From the article, IBM Chief Executive Samuel Palmisano, states, "Some may be tempted to hunker down, to scale back their investment in innovation. While that might make sense during a cyclical downturn, it's a mistake when you're going through a major shift in the global economy." http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Innovation_and_IP_Strategy http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Innovation_and_IP_Strategy Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:15:00 EST Intellectual Property nedwards@ipcg.com (Nancy Edwards Cronin) In 1997, a small Texas company called DataTreasury invented and patented a novel technology to electronically capture and store checks. More than 10 years later, after post-September 11th laws were instituted requiring banks to be less reliant on paper checks being transported by aircraft, DataTreasury found that its patent was being used by a long list of major American banks. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_and_the_Banking_Industry http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_and_the_Banking_Industry Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:30:00 EST Intellectual Property rschwartz@ipcg.com (John Cronin) As the economic downturn forces companies to tighten their collective belts, one strategy they cannot afford to abandon is strategic management of intellectual property (IP) through patents - one of the most powerful methods of protecting competitive advantages. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Cost_Management http://www.ipcg.com/?file=IP_Cost_Management Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:55:00 EST Intellectual Property jcahill@ipcg.com (Jed Cahill) In today's competitive marketplace, companies cannot miss any opportunity to strengthen, improve, and protect their brands. They have to look beyond traditional strategies of securing trademarks, copyrighting text, and protecting designs. http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Brand_and_IP http://www.ipcg.com/?file=Brand_and_IP Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:50:00 EST Intellectual Property kshore@ipcg.com (Kate Shore)