Article
Intellectual property analysis & strategy
It is well recognised that patented intellectual property (IP) plays a crucial role in ensuring an organisation’s current and future prosperity. Not so well known are the arts of how to construct and manage a patent portfolio in light of a constantly changing external IP landscape.
Sagentia has extensive knowledge of managing intellectual property. We have developed specific services aligned to the most common problem areas public and private sector clients are likely to encounter.
IP landscaping and hot-spot analysis
A thorough knowledge and understanding of the IP environment is crucial. Without this a company may find its R&D efforts are compromised, new product launches blocked, IP strategies weakened and it may encounter the risk of expensive and lengthy legal action. We have developed methodologies and tools to identify, analyse, visualise and map the complex patent landscapes surrounding products and technologies. Our proprietary IP visualisation tool can give multiple views on a patent landscape, showing a visual benchmark of an organisation’s strengths and weaknesses. Our experience enables us to analyse the impact of these maps on the organisation and design action plans and recommendations both at a tactical and strategic level.
IP white space and transferable technology analysis
Building on our IP landscaping methodology, we identify gaps in patent coverage which may be capitalised on to deliver commercially valuable benefits which can be protected. We also identify patents belonging to non-competing third parties which may be in-licensed to accelerate development. White space studies are extremely effective in guiding R&D programmes through complex patent landscapes.
IP portfolio alignment
An audit of an organisation’s patent portfolio gives a clear view on the business value of its patents. It identifies the linkages between patents, products and technologies, identifies opportunities to gain licence revenue from non-core or platform IP, achieves cost savings by identifying redundant IP and reveals new opportunities from existing IP. In addition, portfolio alignment can reveal shortfalls in internal IP processes and policies and identify remedial actions.
IP road mapping and strategy
At the end of the development cycle, many organisations simply patent the final product. Whilst this provides short term cost savings, in the long term, platform technologies may not be appropriately protected, the patenting of future product variants may become complex or compromised and valuable licence revenues may be lost. We have developed a framework for developing IP strategies for new product or technology developments, which ensures optimal protection for the product or technology itself, as well as future variants and new uses of the underlying technology. Our framework also includes mechanisms to identify and neutralise emerging competitive threats, thereby securing not just the product or technology itself, but the opportunity as a whole.
If you would like to see the results of a recent survey on how senior R&D executives think the economic environment is affecting their IP strategy, please email us at info@sagentia.com