The Value of IP as a Commodity

By: Ian McClure
IP

I recently published an article in Issue 47 of IAM magazine titled "The Value of IP as a Commodity".  The article is a comprehensive description of IPXI and the ULR contract model for non-exclusive licensing.  In addition, the article highlights the ongoing debate between IP professionals and IP market participants regarding the inefficiencies in IP valuation and technology transfer and how best to resolve these problems.  The natural progression in IP monetization methods has led to the commoditization of IP assets, such ... Read More

Categories: Burgeoning Business, Patent Prospects, Portfolio Potential

The Next Big Thing in Monetizing IP: A Natural Progression to Exchange-Traded Units

By: Ian McClure
dubai

The 1990s was the decade of information technology (IT) - a decade where information was important, but the use, disposition, and security of information became paramount.  The 2000s was the decade of intellectual property (IP) - a decade where an idea was royal, but exclusive rights to an idea became king.  Continuing the natural progression, we currently reside in the decade of intangible assets (IA) - a decade where innovation is the door to success, but ... Read More

Categories: Monetizing IP, Patent Prospects

Invent for Humanity – A Transparent Marketplace for Humanitarian Tech Transfer & IP Licensing

By: Ian McClure
ifh-socialmedia-sq200x200-2

It has been some time since I have posted, but I thought that this matter is of high interest and importance to the technology transfer community and its profound impact on global development and humanitarian concerns. Today the Licensing Executives Society International, Inc. (LESI) and the Center for Applied Innovation (CAI) Announced the Invent for Humanity™ Technology Transfer Exchange Fair, a first-ever event bringing together a renowned collection of technology leaders, humanitarian organizations, and IP licensing & tech transfer professionals. Invent for Humanity ... Read More

Categories: Monetizing IP, Patent Prospects

The Perfect Storm: Corporate Disclosure, Shareholders, and the Importance of Intellectual Property

By: Ian McClure
monumenting62

I have followed the developing story of John Desmarais and his reported purchase of 4,000 patents from Micron as covered by Joff Wild and the IAM Blog, among other bloggers.  A very nice recap of the story, the questions that have been raised, and the meaning of it all can be found HERE under an IAM Blog post titled "Why Micron Matters".  The better title, however, might have been "Why IP Matters", for this story truly brings to light (if all reported facts are accurate) ... Read More

Categories: Patent Prospects, Portfolio Potential

Creating a Market for IP Rights: European Commission Takes Important Step

By: Ian McClure
race

The discussion of how best to create a liquid and transparent market for intellectual property rights never gets old, and every step taken to offer new and complete information to further that discussion is a step in the right direction. The discussion has morphed from ideas to talking points to individual and collaborative research and publications (See Mark Lemley of Stanford Law and Nathan Myhrvold of Intellectual Ventures' article "How to Make a Patent Market") . . . and now to the ... Read More

Categories: Monetizing IP, Patent Prospects

New NPE on the Block: From Corporate Defender to Business-Savvy Aggressor

By: Ian McClure
dsc_00601

In a report yesterday, Bloomberg shed light on what PatentFreedom is calling the 2nd largest NPE in the country.  Second, of course, to Intellectual Ventures.  John Desmarais, a former big-firm lawyer and defender of large corporations in patent infringement cases, has taken the independent train to NPE-ville.  According to the report, Desmarais left his firm in May to form Desmarais, LLP.  But this wasn't the usual "big time partner leaves big firm to start small shop" deal.  No, Desmarais seems to have had a plan in place for ... Read More

Categories: Burgeoning Business, Patent Prospects

The Defensive Patent License: A Clash Between Protection and Open Source

By: Ian McClure
pottery

I read an interesting article today in Network World titled "The Defensive Patent License makes patents less evil for open source".  The article describes the efforts of two law professors and directors of UC Berkeley's Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic to create a Defensive Patent License (DPL).  According to the article, the DPL is supposed to create protection mechanisms for open source practitioners in the software industry from NPE's.  While the article reflects archaically upon NPE's as "trolls" and states ... Read More

Categories: Patent Prospects

Intellectual Property Due Diligence: The Importance of Being Prepared (and Complying)

By: Ian McClure
nashville_at_night2711

I've spoken a lot on IP Prospective about preparing for intellectual property issues before they arise, and the reallocation of business client demands with regard to intangible assets.  This week, an article that I authored on the subject was published in The Federal Lawyer, the Federal Bar Association's magazine. You can read the article HERE. Read More

Categories: Patent Prospects, Trademark Trends

IP Litigation Statistics from China; But What Do They Tell Us?

By: Ian McClure
vineyard

I've been tipped off by the IAM Blog to these interesting statistics released by the Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China. 30,626 civil cases related to IPR at first instance were received by the China national court system in 2009, up 25.49% Of the 2009 IP cases counted, 4,422 involved patent infringement, 6,906 involved trademarks, 15,302 involved copyrights, 747 involved technical contracts, and 1,282 involved unfair competition While a direct comparison to U.S. IP cases is not available (I'm not aware of ... Read More

Categories: Patent Prospects

Tivo, Inc. Demonstrates A Link Between Patent Rulings and Stock Prices

By: Ian McClure
chileairport

I have discussed in other posts the direct link between quality patents and shareholder value. Now, we have proof that a favorable patent ruling at the hand of the CAFC can help a stock price surge. Yesterday, the CAFC ratified the district court's contempt order in Tivo, Inc. v. EchoStar Corp.  The case, which focused on television simultaneous recording technology patents, was well-watched by the IP community.  According to IP Watchdog, Tivo, Inc.'s stock price surged at the news of the hearing: "On ... Read More

Categories: Patent Prospects