Publicly traded patent licensing companies have significantly under-performed market indexes. Only a few of the original listed stocks remain. The IP CloseUp 30, a feature of this blog first published in 2013, was designed to provide IP investors a real-time snapshot of public patent licensing company performance and news. Loss of patent certainty and value […]
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Bridging the Gap Between IP Awareness and Understanding – A response to IBM’s Chief Patent Counsel
February 28, 2019 
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by Professor Ruth Soetendorp In a recent article, Manny Schecter, Chief Patent Counsel at IBM and President of the IPO Education Foundation, was right to point out that increased IP awareness does not necessarily reflect people’s genuine IP understanding or their IP literacy[1]. But what does that matter, and to whom? The ‘general public’ is […]
Continue readingU.S. patent litigation awards are highest since 2014; two cases accounted for 64% of the total damages; half were under $10M
February 19, 2019 0 Comments
$1.4 billion dollars was awarded last year in patent damages, the most since 2014. Two cases were responsible for about two-thirds of that amount or $900 million, according the Lex Machina 2018 Litigation Report, leaving less than $500 million among 16 cases. The biggest year for patent damages in the past decade was 2012, the […]
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U.S. Trademark head, PTAB Chief Judge to speak about IP eligibility – $100 discount for IPCU readers
February 11, 2019 0 Comments
Intellectual property and IP law are in a constant state of flux. For those interested in keeping up with recent changes the 11th annual Corporate IP Counsel Forum is time well-spent. Corporate speakers include Seagate Technology, MasterCard, American Express, Raytheon, NCR Corporation and SAS Institute. Law firms include Ropes & Gray, Fish & Richardson and […]
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FAANGs dominate value and valuation says a new book by an intellectual property expert
February 5, 2019 0 Comments
Facebook, Amazon, Apple and Google, referred to at the Big Four, plus Netflix, “dominate society, technology and IP value and valuation,” according to a new book by a well-known expert in the field. In the concluding chapter of his recently published IP Valuation for the Future (ABA Books), Wes Anson suggests that several large tech companies, […]
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Convergence is creating new value; IPBC Europe in Paris to explore
January 31, 2019 0 Comments
The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) presents new challenges and opportunities for European companies. 4IR is characterized by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres collectively referred to as cyber-physical systems. Traditional ways of creating value from intellectual property are becoming unsustainable and a more integrated approach […]
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Taylor Swift relies on clout and class to secure a unique streaming deal for fellow musicians
January 28, 2019 3 Comments
“With great power comes great responsibility.” Whether it was Voltaire or Peter Parker (Spiderman’s Uncle Ben) who said it does not much matter. The important thing is the those responsible for generating and using intellectual property – the coin of the realm – believe it. Taylor Swift is one of the best-selling music artists of […]
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42% drop in writer income attributed to growth of new media, changing attitudes
January 21, 2019 0 Comments
Value associated with small content generators and copyright owners appear to be on a similar downward trajectory as independent inventors and patent holders. Decline in small book publishing and freelance opportunities for writers has resulted in a 42% decline in income for writers between 2017 and 2009. The most comprehensive survey of writing-related income of […]
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U.S. patent grants down the most since 2009; China is only nation up
January 15, 2019 0 Comments
U.S. patent grants were down 3.5% in 2018 over 2017, only the second decline in the past decade, but the largest. All nations experienced a decline in grants, except China, which was up 12%. The reasons for the declines are unclear. They range from Over-patenting in prior years Uncertainty of newly issued patents Lower return […]
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USTR warns of increasing attacks by China on US intellectual property, including cyber-attacks
January 8, 2019 0 Comments
A report released in late November the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) states that China appears to be stepping up its attacks on U.S. intellectual property. “China fundamentally has not altered its acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation, and indeed appears to have taken further unreasonable […]
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Patent litigation is down 41% since 2015; IPRs are lowest since 2014
January 2, 2019 0 Comments
Patent disputes are significantly lower since they peaked at 5,874 in 2015. Litigation tumbled 41% to 3,491 cases in 2018, and was down 14% from the prior year. While litigation is never good, it is not always bad. Not everyone agrees that the drop in patent suits is a positive sign. Some see it as […]
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IP CloseUp surpassed 200,000 views in 2018
December 31, 2018 0 Comments
In 2018, IP CloseUp broke though the 200,000 view level, generating a total of 207,868 on 373 posts since it was first published. Among the most popular posts for 2017: “For Samsung charity begins at ‘home,’ Marshal’, Tx” “BofA, JPM Chase and Morgan Stanley are leading banks for patent loans” “‘Men of Progress’ depicts US’ […]
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About Bruce Berman
Bruce is a long-time IP observer, adviser and editor, who is in close close contact with the leading owners and influencers. He tracks latest trends and developments, and monitors transactions, strategy and performance.
Since 1988 Bruce has been working with IP holders, managers and lawyers, as well as investors, to convey value to the right audiences. In 2016 he founded the Center for IP Understanding, an independent non-profit, www.understandingip.org.
Bruce is responsible for five books, including the best-seller "From Ideas to Assets." He has written The Intangible Investor column for IAM Magazine since 2003. For his full bio, visit www.brodyberman.com or click below.
