Columns
Large patent portfolios fall victim topatents suits from small, independentasserters not because such peopleare “extortionists”, but because theportfolios they target are not as strongas their owners would like to think
Recent changes to India’s patentlaws mean that the country nowoffers increased protection toresearch-based pharmaceuticalcompanies and software producers
Mounting pressure on the pensionssystems means that Baby Boomersnow approaching retirement agecould find their accumulated nesteggs dependent on IP value
There are VCs out there who thinkthat spin-offs based on universitycreatedintellectual property are a bigdeal. But, in Europe at least, thereare not as many as there used to be
Insights
It is sometimes all too easy to seethe US as a paradise for IP owners.But while things may be goodStateside, they are far from perfect.
The new year has begun with proposed Europeanlegislation on computer implemented inventions stalledyet again. This is testament to the highly effectiveefforts of anti-directive groups. If only they could seethey have identified the wrong opponent, Europe’scompetitiveness could be greatly enhanced
Features
The first pan-European IP Summit, held in Brussels on 2nd and 3rd December2004, brought together senior representatives from industry, the law, policymaking and administration
No company can afford not to value the intellectual property it owns.But finding a way to get an accurate understanding of a portfolio of rightsremains a very tricky task
Traditionally it has been difficult to obtain cost-effective and reliable valuationsof patents and patent portfolios. A new approach may just change this andbring major benefits to companies both large and small
Businesses that include proper contract language instructing a licensee howto calculate a royalty, and that have a proactive licensee monitoring programme,are best positioned to achieve higher royalty revenues at reduced monitoringcosts, without damaging business relationships
Bad news stories are all too common an experience for IP owners in China.But there is another side to the country as well. For those prepared to gobeyond the headlines and to invest in protection strategies, the Chinesemarket need not be a threatening one
