System and Method for Developing and Implementing Intellectual Property Marketing

• US 20100088244A1
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frank, Scott M., Short, Shannon M., Bishop, Michael, Beckham, Carol T., McLendon, Martin L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for the development and implementation of intellectual property marketing. A targeted innovation to fulfill an internal need is developed. Actions are taken to legally protect the targeted innovation as an intellectual property asset. The intellectual property asset is analyzed to determine a marketing assessment. A decision is made whether to market the intellectual property asset based at least in part on the marketing assessment. If the marketing assessment meets a predetermined threshold, the intellectual property asset is marketed.

Claims

1. A method for managing internally targeted innovations, the method comprising:

receiving innovation information regarding a plurality of identified internally targeted innovations, wherein each identified internally targeted innovation of the plurality of identified internally targeted innovations is targeted for utilization by a customer internal to an organization;

receiving intellectual property asset protection data regarding intellectual property rights protecting the plurality of identified internally targeted innovations; and

determining whether to market intellectual property licensing rights for an identified internally targeted innovation associated with the intellectual property asset protection data relative to customer utilization in a market external to the organization.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving innovation information includes receiving an innovation disclosure from an innovator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether to market intellectual property rights for an identified internally targeted innovation is based on an absolute marketing assessment with a predetermined threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether to market intellectual property rights for an identified internally targeted innovation is based on a relative marketing assessment that is independent of any predetermined threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, further including receiving intellectual property asset marketing assessment information based at least in part the intellectual property asset protection data associated with the innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information is received through a graphical user interface from a user, and wherein the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information is based at least in part upon user analysis of the intellectual property asset protection data associated with the innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization.

7. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium for managing internally targeted innovations, the computer program comprising:

logic receiving innovation information regarding a plurality of identified internally targeted innovations, wherein each identified internally targeted innovation of the plurality of identified internally targeted innovations is targeted for utilization by a customer internal to an organization;

logic receiving intellectual property asset protection data regarding intellectual property rights protecting the plurality of identified internally targeted innovations; and

logic determining whether to market intellectual property licensing rights for an identified internally targeted innovation associated with the intellectual property asset protection data relative to customer utilization in a market external to the organization.

8. The computer program of claim 7, wherein receiving innovation information includes receiving an innovation disclosure from an innovator.

9. The computer program of claim 7, wherein the determining whether to market intellectual property rights for an identified internally targeted innovation is based on an absolute marketing assessment with a predetermined threshold.

10. The computer program of claim 7, wherein the determining whether to market intellectual property rights for an identified internally targeted innovation is based on a relative marketing assessment that is independent of any predetermined threshold.

11. The computer program of claim 7, further including logic receiving intellectual property asset marketing assessment information based at least in part the intellectual property asset protection data associated with the innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization.

12. The computer program of claim 11, wherein the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information is received through a graphical user interface from a user, and wherein the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information is based at least in part upon user analysis of the intellectual property asset protection data associated with the innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization.

13. A system for managing internally targeted innovations, the system comprising:

logic receiving innovation information regarding a plurality of identified internally targeted innovations, wherein each identified internally targeted innovation of the plurality of identified internally targeted innovations is targeted for utilization by a customer internal to an organization;

logic receiving intellectual property asset protection data regarding intellectual property rights protecting the plurality of identified internally targeted innovations; and

logic determining whether to market intellectual property licensing rights for an identified internally targeted innovation associated with the intellectual property asset protection data relative to customer utilization in a market external to the organization.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein receiving innovation information includes receiving an innovation disclosure from an innovator.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the determining whether to market intellectual property rights for an identified internally targeted innovation is based on an absolute marketing assessment with a predetermined threshold.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the determining whether to market intellectual property rights for an identified internally targeted innovation is based on a relative marketing assessment that is independent of any predetermined threshold.

17. The system of claim 13, further including receiving intellectual property asset marketing assessment information based at least in part the intellectual property asset protection data associated with the innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information is received through a graphical user interface from a user, and wherein the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information is based at least in part upon user analysis of the intellectual property asset protection data associated with the innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization.