You want to be certain that your product or method does not infringe the rights of third parties. With a Freedom to Operate Search or Clearance Search we can check whether there are patent publications which limit your freedom to operate. This search will make clear whether your product or method possibly infringes the rights of other parties and which parts of the world are still available for marketing of your product.
We can also tell you
– whether modification of your product or method is worthwhile (design-around),
– whether it is advisable to take out a licence,
– whether your product or method has a new aspect and whether a possible application for a dependent patent is advisable,
– or whether, in the extreme case, you can better decide not to apply your product or method.
Landscaping
Landscaping addresses the following questions:
– What technologies have already been patented?
– Which related patent publications are still pending?
– What is the next step in the technology?
– Which competitors have patents in technological areas of strategic importance?
– How many patents do they have and when do they expire?
– How long have they already been active in the relevant technological field?
– Which new competitors are filing patent applications which may possibly present a challenge?
– Which competitors are working in the same field? How large is their market share?
– Are they good takeover candidates or candidates for a strategic partnership?
– In which technological fields have most patents been granted? What are the gaps in the market where new technologies have the best chance?
– Which of your patents are pioneering inventions and which are incremental improvements? Does your company have the necessary IP for commercial marketing of the next evolution in a specific technology?
Portfolio management
Effective analysis and organization of your patent portfolio helps in the evaluation of potential commercial opportunities. We look for the strong and weak points in your portfolio on the basis of a number of technical, legal and commercial parameters.
