SONNENBERGFORTMANN
24IP LAW GROUPUSA PLLC
24IP LAW GROUPFRANCE SARL
FERDINAND IPLLC
Maximising the Value of IPBest Practices from the Commercial World
Dr Robert Harrison
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© 22.10.201424IP LAW GROUP
Overview
• Big Company – idea submission• SME – contracted research• Consortium research
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The Goal
A Patent without a (potential) Business isworthless
A Business with a Patent can be succesfull
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THE BIG COMPANY
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Big Company – Business Proposal
• Open Innovation promoted by manycompanies
• Beware – big companies have multiple research groups
• Technology scouts
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Idea Submission Process
Submit IdeaSubmit Idea
Initial ReviewInitial Review
Technical ReviewTechnical Review
Legal ReviewLegal Review
Business ReviewBusiness Review©22.10.201424IP LAW GROUP
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Initial Review
Generally AcceptableGenerally Acceptable
Compatible with Current TechnologyCompatible with Current Technology
Complementary to Existing TechnologyComplementary to Existing Technology
Potential new Business ModelPotential new Business Model
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Legal Review
• Patent granted / penting
• Publication
• Copyright
• Third Party IP
• Trade Secrets
IP PositionIP Position
Inventorship / AuthorshipInventorship / Authorship
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Technology Review
Technically Feasible?Technically Feasible?
UnderstandableUnderstandable
IP PositionIP Position
Appropriate ReviewersAppropriate Reviewers
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Business Review
Can we make a business?Can we make a business?
Costs of ImplementationCosts of Implementation
Potential SalesAppropriate eviewersPotential SalesAppropriate eviewers
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Intellectual Property
• Open Innovation ≠ No IP protection• Patent application is often required for
submission• Patent application protects submitter's
interests• Don't give everything away at the beginning• Show and tell is probably the most valuable
aspect of the submission.
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SME CONTRACTED RESEARCH
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Contract Research
• Development of a new sealant material
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IP Interests
Manufacturer
• Product Design(Design Rights)
• Market• Need• Electronics Technology
(Some Patents)• Skilled Engineers
Research Institute
• EMC Sealant Technology.• Five Patents• Know-how• Skilled Engineers
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Initial Position
Manufacturer
• All IP exclusive tomanufacturer
• Free licence to backgroundIP
• Confidentiality
Research Institute
• Full payment for work done• No exclusivity• Freedom to develop products
for other customers• Freedom to publish
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• Background IP• Foreground IP
• Publication
• R&D
• No exclusivity• Exclusivity +
transfer ofownership
• Publication after patent
• Right continueto research
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Final Position
CONSORTIUM RESEARCH
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Intellectual Property
• Background : all IP brought into consortium• Foreground : all IP developed by consortium
How do we exploit this?
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Prior to Consortium
• What is my IP?• Identify what I bring to the table• Example: Patent Harvesting
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Consortium Work
ProjectProject
Patent
Policy
Patent
Policy
Common
Prosecution
Common
Prosecution
BudgetBudgetHarvestingHarvesting
ExploitationExploitation
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Exploitation
• Ownership depends on employer• Fragmented licensing policies
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Exploitation Company
ExploitationExploitation
PatentsPatents
LicencesLicences
Know-
How
Know-
How
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IP Licensing OrganisationVideo Telephony
• Licensing Organisation holds some patents• Licensing Organisation has exclusive
licence to some patents + non-exclusive toothers
• Licensing Package
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A SUCCESS STORY
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Software
• Is not patentable?• Can only be patented in the US?
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MP3 Licensing Chain
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•Basic
Codecs
•Licensing
Agent
•One-Stop
Licensing
Body