PATENT LANDSCAPING

Patent Landscaping is the process of researching what patents exist in a specific area. This could be a search for patents in a specific field, or a geographic area, or even patents owned by a specific company or companies. The search can also consider granted patents only, or can include published patent applications as well. The data gathered can be tabulated in various ways, including in a spreadsheet or visually in charts.

So when can a patent landscape be helpful? It can help in making strategic decisions regarding product development. For example, by knowing what is patented, decisions can be made about what products and features can be offered without infringing any patents, and can guide R&D teams to develop workarounds to avoid infringement. Patent landscaping can also help in making marketing decisions, by knowing which markets a product can be sold into, without infringing any patents.

Competitive intelligence is another reason to do a patent landscape. Companies often use landscaping to learn what technologies competitors are working on and where they are protecting their IP, which can give them clues about markets they are pursuing. Furthermore, patent landscapes can help to identify areas of technology that are very active, and where many companies are investing in R&D and in patenting.

Companies looking to acquire patent rights, either by buying or licensing patent portfolios, can also benefit from patent landscapes, which can help them to identify the main players in a specific technology area that own patents.

Please contact us if you would like to learn more about patent landscaping and how it can help your company.