Sample IAM articles
Co-published editorial
The smell of ripe strawberries: representing non-visual trademarks - IAM Issue 29
There have been many attempts to extend the conventional definition of a trademark into unexplored areas such as sounds, smells, taste, colour and 3D shapes. But how do you graphically represent, and protect, a sign that can not be perceived visually? Thomson’s Alex Butler reports. Full Text
Quality is the key to a bright patent future - IAM Issue 29
Ask anyone in the world of patents to name their top three issues and you can be sure that the importance of quality will be mentioned. A panel of leading IP professionals discuss the importance of first-rate patents. Full Text
Meet the middlemen - IAM Issue 28
Over recent years a number of new business models for making money out of IP have emerged and along with them have come the IP intermediaries. They may not be universally loved, but they show no signs of going away. In fact, we can expect to see many more evolve Full Text
Co-Published editorial
Keeping up with changing times - IAM Issue 28
Elizabeth Bevier, of Thomson Scientific IP Management Services, looks at portfolio management requirements in the wake of USPTO rule changes Full Text
Co-Published editorial
Inside the antitrust maze - IAM Issue 28
There is more competition and antitrust scrutiny of IP owners than ever before. And it is only going to get more intense Full Text
World class - IAM Issue 27
The inductees into the IP Hall of Fame for 2007 have all helped to establish intellectual property as a cornerstone of the global economy. Over the following pages they look back on their achievements and explore what may happen next as the IP world develops Full Text
The decade-long revolution - IAM Issue 26
It is now 10 years since David Bowie put pen to paper to seal the first music royalty securitisation. From what better place than the inside is there to assess how this deal and those that followed have revolutionised the world of IP monetisation? Full Text
The Asian perspective - IAM Issue 25
Four experts from some of the leading firms in Asia and the Pacific Rim discuss key IP issues facing their jurisdictions Full Text
P&G goes inside out - IAM Issue 25
When the CEO of Procter & Gamble decided that 50% of the company’s products should be developed collaboratively, a new internal business group was born. Seven years on, it is ensuring the boss is getting exactly what he wants Full Text
Money and mayhem - IAM Issue 24
Brand extensions and celebrity endorsements can be the easiest route to a rapid increase in revenue. But as some companies have found out, they are not guarantees of success Full Text
Inside the US’s perfect patent storm - IAM Issue 24
Supreme Court decisions, reform initiatives in Congress and changes at the USPTO mean that the patent landscape is shifting dramatically in the US. Whether this is for better or for worse is a different issue. Four experts give their opinions Full Text
A European perspective on global patent workload - IAM Issue 23
Talk of poor quality patents and flooding has become commonplace over recent years, but a closer look at the facts suggests that things are not as bad as they first seem. While patent offices do face serious challenges, major changes to the current system are not the answer Full Text
IP finance and monetisation - IAM Issue 23
Subscribers to IAM will be familiar with the fact that intangible assets are now more valuable to companies than they have ever been before. Full Text
Inside the Nordic market - IAM Issue 23
Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden punch way above their weight when it comes to intellectual property. Experts from each country explain the current lie of the IP land in Europe’s far north. Full Text
US patent values - IAM Issue 22
Patent values in the US, as determined by the top 25 litigation awards/settlements, took a tumble in 2006, dropping from US$5.1 million to US$3.1 million. Full Text
Inside Europe’s IP powerhouse - IAM Issue 21
In this special roundtable, three leading experts discuss major issues currently facing IP owners in Germany Full Text
Germany focus - IAM Issue 21
Although German companies have a strong innovative tradition, they must use intellectual property creatively if they are to be successful in meeting the economic challenges of the 21st century Full Text
Life sciences companies follow different paths to success - IAM Issue 21
Nothing signifies Germany’s determination to position itself as a hub in the knowledge economy better than its life sciences industry. And, as in other countries, companies in the sector have contrasting approaches to commercialising their intellectual property Full Text
Raising the roof with a successful IP strategy - IAM Issue 21
In the field of automotive component production, Webasto AG is a seasoned player. Its slick and streamlined IP department, along with excellent lines of communication, means it is well placed to extract maximum value from its rights, as well as get an edge in the market Full Text
It’s time to rethink IP education - IAM Issue 21
Further interdisciplinary training on IP management is vital if the full potential in IP rights is to be realised. What is needed is a master’s programme that helps to overcome current educational shortcomings Full Text
Patent enforcement: licensing and litigation considerations (co-published editorial) - IAM Issue 20
A patent owner in the United States that concludes that its patents are being infringed by a large number of companies on an industry wide basis, and having decided to enforce its patent rights, is faced with deciding how to enforce those rights Full Text
Patent alternate dispute resolution issues and choices in the US (co-published editorial) - IAM Issue 20
Parties to patent disputes in the United States can agree to use an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process to resolve their disagreements, in lieu of traditional litigation proceedings Full Text
Avoiding the patent storm - IAM Issue 20
SFAS 141 was issued five years ago in the US to change the way in which acquiring companies value assets and view intangibles involved in an M&A deal. In order to avoid future problems such companies would do well to ensure that IP experts take part in the valuation process Full Text
Global litigation strategy and the art of war (co-published editorial) - IAM Issue 20
The ultimate goal in a global IP dispute is rarely to fight and win every case in every country in the world. This is usually a waste of time and money Full Text
The value of preliminary injunctions in the US (co-published editorial) - IAM Issue 20
Consider a successful company based somewhere in the United States. Throughout its history, the company has been consistently diligent about obtaining and protecting its intellectual property Full Text
The best of both worlds - IAM Issue 19
Mixing open source and closed software can prove to be an effective – and profitable – corporate strategy. Philips is one company that has come to understand this Full Text
Asia focus (co-published editorial) - IAM Issue 18
An in-bound supplement in which correspondents report on recent developments in some of Asia’s most significant jurisdictions. Full Text
The role of trademarks in M&A - IAM Issue 18
Those engaging in the M&A process could be making a major mistake if they fail to give serious consideration to the brands involved in the potential deal Full Text
The IP Hall of Fame - IAM Issue 17
The IP Hall of Fame is designed to honour those who have made an outstanding contribution to the development of today’s IP system. The first inductees were announced in February 2006 Full Text
The I-stuff effect - IAM Issue 16
One way of tackling the silos that have emerged around the IP and intangibles nexus in many companies is to think about I-stuff. It is a term that encapsulates a completely different approach to the issue Full Text
Intellectual asset strategy and the board of directors - IAM Issue 15
Changes to the way in which corporate governance is approached mean that boards of directors will spend more time on IP management issues than they have in the past. For intellectual asset professionals, one of the challenges this presents is helping senior decision makers focus on the right areas Full Text
Biopharma under threat - IAM Issue 14
The patent system has proved effective at fostering developments in the traditional pharmaceutical industry but the new area of biopharmaceutical research is not being so well treated. The consequences could be devastating Full Text
Europe’s patent crisis - IAM Issue 13
Viewed in isolation, the failure of the CII Directive was not a body blow to European patent owners. The problem is that it was just the latest in a string of reverses that threaten to leave Europe’s businesses way behind their global competition Full Text
Big Blue gets its man - IAM Issue 12
Kevin Rivette is one of the pivotal figures in the development of intellectual asset management. He has now surprised many by swapping life as a consultant for the high-profile pressure of a senior position at IBM Full Text
California runs stem-cell risk - IAM Issue 11
Hollywood-fuelled enthusiasm – and blue-state contrariness – moved California voters last year to authorise a US$3 billion handout for the funding of stem-cell research. Unfortunately, it appears that nobody stopped to think through the IP consequences. As a result, the project could now be at risk Full Text
Europe’s IP future - IAM Issue 10
The first pan-European IP Summit, held in Brussels on 2nd and 3rd December 2004, brought together senior representatives from industry, the law, policy making and administration Full Text
The folly of legislating against software patents - IAM Issue 09
Anti-software and business-method patent lobbying efforts in Europe are alarmist rhetoric and more harmful than helpful to the software industry. Despite its media appeal, a prohibition on these patents is doomed to fail, as it is impossible to prohibit something that cannot be defined. By Craig Opperman Full Text
It’s a minefield out there - IAM Issue 08
There may be gold in them there patent portfolios. But not everyone is going to find it when they go a-looking. Over the summer, IAM assembled a quartet of leaders in the field to discuss the opportunities and dangers patent mining presents. By Joff Wild Full Text
Dickinson starts planning GE’s IP revolution - IAM Issue 07
For the first time ever, General Electric has given one person the job of looking after its entire intellectual property portfolio and strategy. And in Todd Dickinson they could not have found someone with more experience to take on the task. By Joff Wild Full Text
Keeping its name is crucial to Google’s public performance - IAM Issue 06
The imminent public offering of Google shares seems set to be the event of the year in the United States. Those looking to invest in the company should take a close look at Google’s brand management strategy. Full Text
Why it’s all about location - IAM Issue 05
Any successful IP programme requires the backing of those at the top of an organisation. But how do people with no background in the area begin to understand the issues involved? One solution is to talk about patents in terms of real estate. An added bonus is that thinking in this way can bring about radical changes to portfolio management strategies. By Craig Opperman Full Text
The challenges of 2004 - IAM Issue 04
During 2003 there were major developments in the world’s intellectual asset management landscape. Some more welcome than others. And it is clear that the pace of change shows no signs of letting up. Senior figures from industry, the law and representative organisations explain what they saw as the key issues of the last 12 months and what we need to be looking out for in 2004. By Joff Wild Full Text
Taking IP to market the BTG way - IAM Issue 03
BTG plc has a simple enough mission statement – to find, develop and commercialise emerging technologies in the life and physical sciences. Getting the financial markets to understand just what it means to be perhaps the world’s only full-service IP-commercialisation operation, however, can be a tough job. Full Text
Patent challenges for nanotech investors - IAM Issue 02
Patent portfolios are an essential element in any nanotechnology company’s business prospectus. The problem for investors is in deciding which patents are worth the paper they are written on, and which are not. The task is not made easier by the current problems the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has with nanotech patent applications. By Joff Wild Full Text
When licensing deals create shareholder value - IAM Issue 01
Companies which are able to communicate the details of licensing deals to the financial markets stand to reap an immediate benefit in the shape of increased share values, according to a detailed study of London Stock Exchange share movements following such announcements. But the same research reveals that although market-makers appreciate there is value in licensing agreements, many of them are not quite sure why. By Suzanna Hawkes Full Text