SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MERCHANDISING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSETS

• US 20110153434A1
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Thomas, Tracey R.
• Application Number:
  US12/640,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153434A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.72
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0607 Regulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer, intellectual property (IP) documentation for an IP asset, wherein at least a portion of the IP documentation is in a standardized format based upon a standardized template;

determining, by the computer and based upon the IP documentation, a first category for the IP asset;

creating, by the computer and based upon the IP documentation, a marketing document for the IP asset;

storing, by the computer, the IP documentation and the marketing document in an IP asset database; and

enabling, by the computer, a search of the IP asset database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining at least one of an industry for the IP asset and a unique identifier for the IP asset.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a modification of the marketing document.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an approval of the marketing document and activating the IP asset to be included in searches of the IP asset database.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the marketing document to an owner of the IP asset for approval and receiving an approval of the marketing document, wherein the sending the marketing document and the receiving the approval are performed based upon a predefined process.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the marketing document comprises at least one of a brochure and an information sheet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the marketing document includes at least one of a valuation of the IP asset and a rating of the IP asset.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from a user a search request for available IP assets associated with the first category.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

searching the IP asset database based upon the search request to determine a list of available IP assets; and

providing the list to the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the searching the IP asset database comprises searching external data sources, wherein the external data sources comprise at least one of the Internet, proprietary databases, subscription databases and corporate databases.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a selected IP asset from the user, wherein the selected IP asset is included in the list; and

providing additional data associated with the IP asset, wherein the additional data comprises at least one of the marketing document, a rating, a valuation and contact information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the marketing document is in a markup language format, wherein the web page is dynamically created based at least partially upon data in the IP asset database.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the web page is dynamically created based at least partially upon data in a database of the IP owner.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the IP asset with another IP asset to create an IP portfolio.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the marketing document is based upon the IP portfolio.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

parsing the IP documentation into IP asset data elements;

validating the IP asset data elements; and

providing the IP asset data elements to an IP owner for approval.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an inquiry from a buyer, wherein the inquiry comprises requested IP asset attributes;

determining a match between the IP asset and the requested IP asset attributes; and

identifying the IP asset to the buyer.

11. The method of clam 9, wherein the list includes at least one of the first category, a subject matter associated with the IP asset, an industry associated with the IP asset and a unique identifier associated with the IP asset.

19. A system comprising:

a network interface;

a processor configured to execute a computer program;

a memory; and

the computer program configured to;

receive intellectual property (IP) documentation for an IP asset, wherein at least a portion of the IP documentation is in a standardized format based upon a standardized template;

determine, based upon the IP documentation, a first category for the IP asset;

create, based upon the IP documentation, a marketing document for the IP asset;

store the IP documentation and the marketing document in an IP asset database; and

enable a search of the IP asset database.

20. A tangible computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving, by a computer, intellectual property (IP) documentation for an IP asset, wherein at least a portion of the IP documentation is in a standardized format based upon a standardized template;

determining, by the computer and based upon the IP documentation, a first category for the IP asset;

creating, by the computer and based upon the IP documentation, a marketing document for the IP asset;

storing, by the computer, the IP documentation and the marketing document in an IP asset database; and

enabling, by the computer, a search of the IP asset database.