Fear & Loathing on the IP Trail, Part 2: Boston

by: Luke Barbin, CEO & Co-Founder

Field Notes from IAM’s 2019 IPBC Global Event

We are still recovering from last week’s trip to IAM’s IPBC Global event in Boston.  Hard to beat an event that brings together many of the movers-and-shakers of our industry for 2.5 days of pure strategy, interaction, deal making, and celebration.

We had the opportunity to meet and talk with 75+ peers and attend a bunch of great panels, parties, dinners, and coffee breaks.

Here are my key takeaways from the event:

 1) Litigation interest is still extremely high, but now with the aggressive introduction of litigation financing and patent acquisition financing, the market players are more discerning and are looking for risk-mitigating advantages with technology, data, and consultation;

2) Many corporate counsel indicated a vast increase in interest in IP in C-suite and boardroom decisions of their companies.  Translation: IP strategy may finally be getting a seat at the table instead of being several degrees removed in a position subordinate to the GC’s office.  We are also seeing this in our own business, among our customers.

3) IP departments are taking a more holistic approaches to IP.  For example, many are spending a great deal of time evaluating and acquiring third party portfolios (if the price is right) to bolster their company’s technology position.  It is no longer just about what can we patent and what can we sell.  It is about what can we buy to improve our position and gain leverage.

4)  Data, data, data.  Traditional forms of IP like patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets have a new sibling rivalry.  Companies are leveraging vast amounts of proprietary collected data and know-how, in addition to patents, to add significant value to deals.

We’ll continue to watch how these trends emerge and report back.

#relentlessresearch

#intelligentproperty