A practical, non-technical approach to managing your company's patent and invention portfolio, including filing patent claims, and protecting and managing your firm's assets.
In a world where your intellectual property is your most valuable asset, patents are becoming an essential tool for achieving and maintaining a competitive edge. With billions of dollars at stake, companies are defending their patents vigorously; high-profile cases, such as Microsoft's $900 million patent dispute settlement with Sun Microsystems, and Medtronic's acquisition of a competitor's entire patent portfolio for $1.35 billion, are cases in point. While most companies will not operate at this level, the strategic management of patents, and the costs of enforcing and defending them, are becomining critical business functions.
In this accessible and practical guide, Henry Heines shows readers how to apply due diligence, a common concept in corporate finance and investing, to analyze the costs and benefits of patent management, and to navigate through the legal and technical maze. With dozens of examples from many industries, he walks readers through the various ways in which technological advances can be presented as patentable inventions and in which the patents of competitors can be confronted and evaluated. He also offers guidance in managing a portfolio of patents and inventions, regardless of whether they make it to market as products. A glossary of terms and listing of resources will make this book a handy reference for anyone involved in product development, corporate strategy, or intellectual property.
Reviews
"Heines is a chemical engineer, patent attorney, and partner in a San Francisco-based law firm. Drawing on 30-plus years of experience advising clients in such fields as chemistry, biotech, semiconductors, medical devices, and laboratory instruments, he offers a practical guide for business professionals. The text demonstrates how to apply the concept of due diligence to analyze the costs and benefits of patent management, and to work through the legalities and technicalities of the patent process. Also included are a glossary of terms and a list of print and nonprint references and supplementary materials. For business professionals involved in product development, corporate strategy, or intellectual property."—Reference & Research Book News
"[O]ffers a practical guide for business professionals. The text demonstrates how to apply the concept of due diligence to analyze the costs and benefits of patent management, and to work through the legalities and technicalities of the patent process. Also included are a glossary of terms and a list of print and nonprint references and supplementary materials. For business professionals involved in product development, corporate strategy, or intellectual property."—Reference & Research Book News
