System and method for developing and implementing intellectual property marketing

• US 7,386,460 B1
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frank, Scott M., Beckham, Carol T., McLendon, Martin L., Short, Shannon M., Bishop, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P
• Application Number:
  US10/188,209
• Time in Patent Office: 2,169 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• 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 computer-readable medium containing a program for assessing intellectual property asset protection data as part of a system for managing protection and licensing of intellectual property assets, the program comprising:

receiving intellectual property asset protection data, wherein the intellectual property asset protection data includes protection data corresponding to a plurality of intellectual property assets, wherein each intellectual property asset is defined and maintained as an asset by the existence of legally-enforceable intellectual property protection rights pertaining to that intellectual property asset, wherein the intellectual property asset protection data further includes data associated with an innovation and described in an innovation disclosure from an innovator associated with the innovation;

identifying the innovation as an innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to an organization;

storing the intellectual property asset protection data in an intellectual property asset protection database including a plurality of intellectual property asset protection data records, wherein the storing further includes storing at least a portion of the data associated with the innovation as intellectual property asset protection data;

receiving, through a graphical user interface, intellectual property asset marketing assessment information from a user 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; and

responsive to the received intellectual property asset marketing assessment information being associated with an innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization, producing, based on the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information and a predetermined threshold, a decision regarding whether to market intellectual property licensing rights for the innovation associated with the intellectual property asset relative to customer utilization in a market external to the organization.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the decision is to market intellectual property licensing rights for the innovation if the marketing assessment meets the predetermined threshold.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the innovation targeted exclusively for use internal to the organization without considering use of the innovation outside the organization.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the innovation targeted exclusively for use internal to the organization without considering acquisition of the innovation by an external organization.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the program further comprising determining that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on a determination that acquisition of the innovation from an external organization is infeasible.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the program further comprising determining that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on the absence of instructions for use by an external entity associated with the innovation.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the program further comprising determining that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on the absence of a technical support plan associated with the innovation.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the program further comprising determining that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on the absence of a training plan for an external entity associated with the innovation.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the program further comprising determining that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on the absence of at least one help screen with the innovation.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the program further comprising determining that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on determining that the innovation was developed without assessing at least one of projected revenue from the innovation and research and development cost of the innovation.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the program further comprising determining whether additional intellectual property protection should be sought for the innovation.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the program further comprising determining whether to direct preparation and filing of a patent application claiming at least a portion of the innovation.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the program further comprising determining whether to direct preparation and filing of a trademark application protecting the innovation.

14. A system configured to assess intellectual property asset protection data as part of a system for managing protection and licensing of intellectual property assets, the system comprising:

at least one memory having stored thereon program code; and

at least one processor that is programmed by at least the program code to enable the system to;

receive intellectual property asset protection data, wherein the intellectual property asset protection data includes protection data corresponding to a plurality of intellectual property assets, wherein each intellectual property asset is defined and maintained as an asset by the existence of legally-enforceable intellectual property protection rights pertaining to that intellectual property asset, wherein the intellectual property asset protection data further includes data associated with an innovation and described in an innovation disclosure from an innovator associated with the innovation;

identify the innovation as an innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to an organization,

store the intellectual property asset protection data in an intellectual property asset protection database including a plurality of intellectual property asset protection data records, including to store at least a portion of the data associated with the innovation as intellectual property asset data,

receive, through a graphical user interface, intellectual property asset marketing assessment information from a user based at least in part upon user analysis of the intellectual property asset protection data associated with the innovation, and

responsive to the received intellectual property asset marketing assessment information being associated with an innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization, produce, based on the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information and a predetermined threshold, a decision regarding whether to market intellectual property licensing rights for the innovation associated with the intellectual property asset relative to customer utilization in a market external to the organization.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the decision is to market intellectual property licensing rights for the innovation if the marketing assessment meets the predetermined threshold.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the innovation is targeted exclusively for use internal to the organization without considering use of the innovation outside the organization.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the innovation is targeted exclusively for use internal to the organization without considering acquisition of the innovation by an external organization.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to enable the system to determine that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on a determination that acquisition of the innovation from an external organization is infeasible.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to enable the system to determine that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on the absence of instructions for use by an external entity are associated with the innovation.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to enable the system to determine that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on the absence of a technical support plan associated with the innovation.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to enable the system to determine that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on the absence of a training plan for an external entity associated with the innovation.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to enable the system to determine that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on the absence of at least one help screen with the innovation.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to enable the system to determine that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on determining that the innovation was developed without assessing at least one of projected revenue from the innovation and research and development cost of the innovation.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to determine whether additional intellectual property protection should be sought for the innovation.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to determine whether to direct preparation and filing of a copyright registration protecting the innovation.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to determine whether to direct protection of the innovation as a trade secret.

27. A method for use with a computer for assessing intellectual property asset protection data as part of a system for managing protection and licensing of intellectual property assets, the method comprising:

receiving intellectual property asset protection data, wherein the intellectual property asset protection data includes protection data corresponding to a plurality of intellectual property assets, wherein each intellectual property asset is defined and maintained as an asset by the existence of legally-enforceable intellectual property protection rights pertaining to that intellectual property asset, wherein the intellectual property asset protection data further includes data associated with an innovation and described in an innovation disclosure from an innovator associated with the innovation;

identifying the innovation as an innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to an organization;

storing the intellectual property asset protection data in an intellectual property asset protection database including a plurality of intellectual property asset protection data records, wherein the storing further includes storing at least a portion of the data associated with the innovation as intellectual property asset protection data;

receiving, through a graphical user interface, intellectual property asset marketing assessment information from a user 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; and

responsive to the received intellectual property asset marketing assessment information being associated with an innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization, producing, based on the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information and a predetermined threshold, a decision regarding whether to market intellectual property licensing rights for the innovation associated with the intellectual property asset relative to customer utilization in a market external to the organization.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the decision is to market intellectual property licensing rights for the innovation if the marketing assessment meets the predetermined threshold.

29. The method of claim 27, the innovation targeted exclusively for use internal to the organization without considering use of the innovation outside the organization.

30. The method of claim 27, the innovation targeted exclusively for use internal to the organization without considering acquisition of the innovation by an external organization.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

determining that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on a determination that acquisition of the innovation from an external organization is infeasible.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

determining that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on the absence of instructions for use by an external entity associated with the innovation.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

determining that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on the absence of a technical support plan associated with the innovation.

34. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

determining that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on the absence of a training plan for an external entity associated with the innovation.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

determining that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on the absence of at least one help screen with the innovation.

36. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

determining that the innovation is targeted for internal utilization based at least in part on determining that the innovation was developed without assessing at least one of projected revenue from the innovation and research and development cost of the innovation.

37. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

determining whether additional intellectual property protection should be sought for the innovation.

38. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

determining whether to direct preparation and filing of a patent application claiming at least a portion of the innovation.

39. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

determining whether to direct preparation and filing of a trademark application protecting the innovation.

40. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

determining whether to direct preparation and filing of a copyright registration protecting the innovation.