IAM Issue 5

In many industries patent litigation is
a fact of business life. It therefore
needs to be treated as such by both
company managements and investors

Do not be surprised to see a day
in the not too distant future when
patents become valuable
insurance tools

The introduction of a unitary
patent system for Europe seems
as far away as ever after the EU
Competitiveness Council’s failure
on 11th March to adopt the
Regulation establishing the
Community patent

Any successful IP programme requires the backing of those at the top of an
organisation. But how do people with no background in the area begin to
understand the issues involved? One solution is to talk about patents in terms
of real estate. An added bonus is that thinking in this way can bring about
radical changes to portfolio management strategies. By Craig Opperman

The Madey v Duke decision may well fundamentally alter the relationship
between academia and industry in the United States. In the process, it looks
likely to force universities to re-evaluate the way in which they approach the
management of their IP portfolios. By Daniel McCurdy and Thomas Reynolds

Bankruptcy is a threat that most companies tend to ignore until it is too late.
However, proper forecasting and subsequent planning can help fend off
problems before they occur. And intellectual property has a key role to play.
By Sam Khoury and Paul Malz

A lawyer’s involvement in any business transaction is justified only to the extent
the transaction is worth more as a result of his or her participation. But how do
companies decide when this is actually the case? By Peter Gardner

Sustainable licensing programmes cannot rely on the piecemeal release of
technology and intellectual property. Instead, it is essential to maintain a
constant focus on the needs of the end customer. If this is to be done properly
in most businesses, a willingness to partner with outside organisations is
crucial. By Jay Kshatri

Europe has a major credibility problem when it comes
to intellectual property. In many cases, the rhetoric of
politicians does not match their deeds. Recent events
have merely served to emphasise this point once again

There were record numbers at this year’s
AUTM conference in San Antonio. The
message they received from keynote
speakers was that a sense of
complacency could lead to the erosion of
the rights they enjoy as a result of the
Bayh-Dole Act.