How we Grow a Glimpse Into Our Journey Toward Optimization
Keeping Pace with Innovation is Challenging and Carries a Cost
Safeguarding Most Important Wealth - Intellectual Property
Mastering the Art of Leadership
Role of Technology in Personalizing the Customer Experience
Nancy Goldsmith, Managing Director, Bozzuto Management Company
Navigating the Pitfalls of Third Party Data Integration
Jed Gordon, Partner & Global Head, IP Transactions Practice, McDermott Will & Emery
Building a Strong IT Department by Adopting Advanced Technology
Thad M. Lutgens, Director of Equipment & IT, Longbow Industries (Parent of LPR Construction)
IP Intelligence and Valuation in the era of Industry 4.0
Andreas Iwerbäck, Director of Group IP Intelligence, Innovation & Technology - Husqvarna GroupNadel Phelan, Inc.
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Joseph Codispoti, Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, BEDGEAR
My company was not immune to these pressures, part of which demanded that research for an operating company had to be directed to near-term product development and that accompanying intellectual property itself show a return on investment. At that time, I had sketched out a proposal for my company’s central research group to license their patents to start-ups and entrepreneurs for no upfront fees or royalties for a certain time. This so-called “Hothouse” project would give these newbies quick and easy access to more technical rights and assets and would hopefully help stimulate their development efforts. For us, we would seek to stoke demand and gain wider adoption for the group’s innovations and intellectual property (and, with any luck, create actual revenue in the future). In the end, my proposal was barely considered, eclipsed by larger-profile efforts to spin-out technology and micro-invest venture capital.
My strong suspicion is that nearly all innovations and data are not used as tools of competition by their holders. Policy, past practice, and politics keep them protected
The threshold inquiry is whether or not the innovation is to be used as a tool of competition by the holder of the innovation. The same is true for data that results from the use of our innovative tools for collecting, organizing, and analyzing information. This is a qualitative review, not a quantitative one (e.g., we have too much data; therefore, it should all be open and available).
My strong suspicion is that nearly all innovations and data are not used as tools of competition by their holders. Policy, past practice, and politics keep them protected. For example, patented inventions are often only nominally disclosed and shared with the public in exchange for a patent grant of exclusion. Non-public business information that is not a trade secrets is routinely held confidential by transacting parties. Many privacy regimes adopted by companies limit the disclosure or use of personal data indiscriminately.
For good or bad, today’s business works through the gears of regulations and compliance, and this tends to cement these reflexive responses. This is sidestepped, though, when there is an honest assessment of one’s innovations and intellectual property. More problematic is the follow-through. Many see risk; many see a lack of immediate tangible benefit. My advice is to look through that long, rich history in the sharing of technological information – similar opportunities will certainly present themselves to champion open innovation where appropriate.