Method and system for facilitating the transfer of intellectual property

• US 8,554,636 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Patent Cloud, LLC
• Original Assignee: Patent Cloud, LLC
• Inventors: Pienkos, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZURITA, JAMES H
• Application Number:
  US13/600,823
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/27.1
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

A method and system for facilitating the transfer of intellectual property are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method of facilitating the transfer of intellectual property includes obtaining at a computer system of a first entity information concerning intellectual property in which an interest is available for transfer (the “available intellectual property”) from a second entity. The method further includes transferring the interest in the available intellectual property by concluding an agreement between the first and second entities. The agreement is representative of an acceptance of an offer concerning the transferring of the interest in the available intellectual property and consideration for the transferring of the interest. At least a portion of the interest in the available intellectual property that is transferred to the first entity is intended to be transferred from the first entity to a third entity.

Claims

1. An internet-based method of executing a transaction involving a transfer of an interest in a patent asset between a first party and a second party at least in part by way of an intermediary interacting with at least one exchange, the method comprising:

(a) providing onto the internet, from a first computer system of the intermediary, first information for receipt by a second computer system of a first exchange, wherein the first information serves to identify the first computer system to the second computer system so that the first computer system is able to access the second computer system;

(b) sending a search request from the first computer system for receipt by the second computer system, the search request specifying a first attribute of a patent asset desired by the intermediary;

(c) receiving at the first computer system, via the internet, search result information provided by the second computer system in response to the search request;

(d) processing the search result information at the first computer system, wherein based upon the processing the first computer system determines that the patent asset satisfying the first attribute is available via the first exchange;

(e) communicating in relation to the second computer system via the internet a first bid pertaining to first rights in the patent asset;

(f) concluding a first agreement between the intermediary and the first party by which the first rights in the patent asset are transferred to the intermediary;

(g) sending third information regarding the patent asset from the first computer system for receipt by at least one of the second computer system and a third computer system of a second exchange;

(h) receiving at the first computer system, from the at least one of the second and third computer systems via the internet, a second bid pertaining to the patent asset, the second bid originating at the second party; and

(i) concluding a second agreement between the intermediary and the second party by which the interest in the patent asset is transferred from the intermediary to the second party, the interest including at least some of the first rights.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computer system interacts with the second computer system by way of accessing a website of the first exchange provided by the second computer system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first computer system interacts with the website of the second computer system automatically, and wherein the first computer system includes a database that the first computer system consults in determining whether there has been at least one past inquiry concerning the patent asset.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the third information includes at least one of a title, a number identifying the patent asset, a filing date, an issue date, expiration information, descriptive information concerning a technical subject matter of the patent asset, product information regarding a product that is within a scope of the patent asset, and market information regarding a market to which the patent asset pertains.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the third information specifies the first rights in the patent asset that are available from the intermediary.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing processing relating to the patent asset at the first computer system, the processing including at least one of:

(1) performing a financial valuation of the patent asset;

(2) checking at least one of an ownership status of the patent asset and a validity status of the patent asset; and

(3) assessing whether the patent asset is potentially of interest based upon a review of at least one past inquiry.