Key enabler to your innovation lifecycle – development stage

Publications of patent applications and granted patents are a recognized source of information on technological innovation programs and patenting strategies of players in a given field. Tapping into this resource, data reporting tools such as mapping/landscaping are often used to provide general overviews of competitive activity. Going beyond, patent data analysis can become a personalized, wide-ranging strategic tool, if well-defined objectives are set for the analysis, a dedicated search strategy is implemented and an actionable report is produced, with recommendations closely fitting the objectives. As a consequence, patent data can have an impact throughout your specific innovation cycle, enabling key choices and decisions at every stage of the cycle, from Ideation to Development to Marketing and Monetisation.

Here we focus on Development.

1. Patent data can assist your product development

Patent data can yield comprehensive competitive overviews, enabling positioning of your activity and development plans versus competitors. Out of all patent publications in the field of the study, reports will list competitors across geographies, compare and analyse their patenting activity and highlight technological fields they specialise-in. As a result, areas with relatively less competitive presence can be identified, both in terms of geography and technology, indicating opportunities for your product development.

For most implementable results, the study should be focused on a specific business area or product line. Importantly, a well-defined objective must be selected for the exercise, e.g. exploring opportunities in a new product area or market, identifying new developments for existing products, seeking freedom-to-operate information on a defined product.

2. Patent data can support your patent portfolio management

Building a patent portfolio is a must, as it protects technical innovation, enables commercial development and creates value for the company. But properly managing portfolios is equally critical, to make sure patents are filed, prosecuted and maintained in the countries where they matter, and associated costs are monitored and controlled. Deciding upfront in which countries a patent application needs to be filed requires an insight into the future. Monitoring if granted patents should be maintained on a yearly basis in given territories involves continuous and accurate knowledge of competitive activity. Patent data reports will provide valuable help in both situations: reports will reveal competitors overall patent filing activity, markets in which competitors file and maintain their patents, and technologies they specialise in. Players filing and maintenance data over time will enable identification of future competitive moves, facilitating filing and maintenance decisions.

3. How is the step-by-step analysis conducted?

–       Competitors are listed according to their patent filing volume

–       Competitor geographic filing data are mapped, revealing countries with R&D locations and markets selected for protection

–       Filings distribution charts over the last several years are compiled, allowing detection of major technology or market evolution trends

–       Patented technology segments are identified and compared, allowing identification of where each player innovates most, and which technologies are most protected

–       Your own patent filing data are included in all above studies, and compared with competitors in relevant charts and maps

–       A personalised report is drawn, with recommendations addressing the specific objectives set for the exercise

GEVERS and its specialized patent attorney and information specialists will gladly answer your questions and provide additional perspective.