IP Strategy 102 / How to understand IP maturity

While determining the intellectual property focus and needs for a company or institution, various stages are passed and a process that extends from infancy to maturity is experienced. First, from the initial stage, there are usually four different stages for IP management and different needs arise depending on the portfolio maturity. This subject can be examined under four categories(Figure 1).

Figure 1

1. Defensive

Purpose: At this level, companies solely use their IP for defensive purposes. Their objectives are to safeguard their own ideas, avoid infringing on others' intellectual property, and get more IP. Filing fees, enforcement fees, and other legal expenditures can add up quickly.

It is usually initiated because of an infringement lawsuit. In case of doubt, an IP proof-reading is done. IP management is often externally controlled by a high-cost consultant. Mostly, there is an uncontrolled portfolio growth to get rid of the potential patent infringement notifications.  

Requirements: IP portfolio manager and the experienced inventors.

2. Cost control

Purpose: Companies at this stage still take a defensive stance, but they're now concentrating on obtaining protection while lowering the expenses of developing and maintaining their intellectual property. It is usually started due to budget constraints. There is a need for professional IP cost accounting and a higher degree of formal processing capacity. Saving becomes the main strategy.

Requirements: IP portfolio manager, legal business follow-up manager and accountant

3. Profit Generation

Purpose: Companies reach this stage when they start licensing out their intellectual property or using it in various ways to support their business. It is a level of sophistication for commercialization. The work done gains visibility at the company's board level. Generating additional income from IP requires new skill sets. This level requires a long-term intellectual property plan for market dominance. Additionally, are needed.

Requirements: IP portfolio manager, IP strategist, IP analyst, IP licensing specialist and IP litigation consultant, legal business prosecution specialist and accountant

4. Visionary

Purpose: The emphasis is on using intellectual property to modify the character or direction of competition, relying on strategic patenting, refocusing R&D, and rethinking partnerships with customers, suppliers, and other relevant parties. IP is controlled centrally, with the organization actively seeking out new economic prospects for its intellectual property (e.g. out-licensing and use in joint ventures). The corporations want to profit from the IP itself, rather than just the products and services that are covered by it.

Requirements: IP portfolio manager, IP strategist, IP analyst, IP licensing specialist and IP litigation consultant, legal business prosecution specialist and accountant

Thanks to Techin2B platform, it is quite simple to determine your IP portfolio depth and to evaluate which IP management stage you are in. All you have to do is create your IP assets and products on the platform. It is also possible to get help from the TLS.IP expert team in 4 different IP maturity stages and in all other matters(Figure 2).

Figure 2

References: 

• wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2008/01/article_0008.html
• EPO e-learning courses
• Patent Management, 2020, written by Gassman, Bader, Thomson