IAM Issue 46

A round-up of IP-related quotes, observations and opinions
from the recent past ...

A sophisticated patent-based
market is beginning to
develop in China. But there is
still a long way to go before
patents are fully embraced by
the country’s businesses

Ericsson’s chief intellectual property
officer believes he has one of the
best IP teams in the world. Not only
does it manage a high-quality
patent portfolio, but it also regularly
exceeds its revenue targets. In this
exclusive interview, Kasim Alfalahi
talks about why he runs his
department like a small business

Globalisation of intellectual property
spurs innovation and nowhere is
this more the case than in the
emerging 4G technology space.
Patent pools are key to ensuring
this continued success

Intangible assets can create much
more value when they are managed
in a tax-efficient manner. A number of
European countries offer incentives
for companies exploiting intangible
assets in those jurisdictions

Patent-related insurance has been
hard to come by, while those policies
that do exist are often regarded as
too expensive. However, as more
insurers enter the market, more
sophisticated products at lower
prices are beginning to appear

Although the Eastern District of
Texas is regarded by defendants in
patent infringement suits as a venue
to escape from as soon as possible,
sometimes staying put may well be
the best option

When problems began to emerge
with some of its aircraft engines,
Rolls-Royce faced a potentially
damaging reputation issue. There
are good reasons why this does not
appear to have materialised

The business media are doing a better
job of covering patent disputes.
However, they still have a long way to
go if intellectual property is to be taken
seriously by non-IP audiences

In its Uniloc decision, the US Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit provided
much-needed clarification on the
calculation of damages in patent
infringement lawsuits. Patent owners
should not fear that the bottom is falling
out of the value of their patents; neither
should infringers rejoice (too much)

The best innovation is based on sharing
ideas, but in the US that incurs potential
risk of severe penalties in the case of
willful infringement. So how, asks Bob
Stembridge of Thomson Reuters IP
Solutions, can that risk be managed
while ensuring effective innovation
through collaboration?