Section
ip4inno - IP strategy for business
The ip4inno project consists of 21 modules specifically designed for business advisors, technology transfer professionals and anyone else interested in understanding how IP issues impact SMEs and new businesses.
The business audiences who have most to gain from ip4inno materials often feel that IP has nothing to do with them. For many, IP is too expensive to acquire and enforce and a low priority compared to running their business. Too often IP lectures focus upn "how" to register IP rights rather than explaining "why" a business would want to use IP in the first place.
When a patent is infringed, rushing to litigate might not always be the best business decision, even if it might be legally right. This ip4inno module compares litigation with other cost-effective alternatives which could resolve a dispute, e.g. an infringer could become a licensing partner. The choices are presented from the point of view of business decisions rather than legal procedures.
The exclusion in European patent law against protection for software is often misunderstood. For businesses innovating in the ICT sector a knowledge of the two very different IP rights - patents and copyright - is essential for successful exploitation of research. This excerpt from ip4inno Module 6A explains the peculiarities of "patents for software" and compares this form of protection with copyright.
This area of patent law, more than any other, is subject to caveats, provisos and prohibitions regarding what can be patented. Technologies using proteins, enzymes, genes and stem cells stand to benefit mankind with new medical treatments, but the public, law-makers and patent offices nevertheless insist on strict limits to patent exclusivity.
This excerpt from Module 4D focuses solely on sources of finance for innovations. The role of start-up capital from family and friends, public grants, bank loans and ultimately venture capital are discussed in the broader context of the innovation process. How to time patent applications so as to not fail while crossing the infamous "Valley of Death" is also discussed.
This module gives an overview on the basics of patent infringement suit, the risks and chances presented by it, how to avoid a patent infringement suit and the appropriate measures for the patentee and the alleged infringer to take.
The module focuses on ways in which to attract SMEs to training events about intelectual property by using a concrete example and giving practical advice on building a strategy for creating awareness about the importance of IP.
Part C - content quality: Understanding intellectual property | ip4inno train-the trainer module URL
This particular module offers tips on how to work with the training material by using two sample talks on IP rights. They contain an overview of the basic concepts that will help you to explain the IP system to SMEs.
This module looks at some of the ways you can improve your teaching skills, including: how to prepare your classroom sessions, how to communicate effectively and how to encourage classroom participation.
Innovation is more than just invention. You can create something new, but if you don't exploit or commercialise it, there is no innovation. The module is divided into four main blocks that will introduce you more into the principles and cycle of innovation, fitting the business model to the IP and formulating a business plan.
This module is based on a recorded workshop whose aim is to review certain aspects of IP licensing and how they work in practice. The participants at the workshop were split in two groups and asked to work on a study case about a company which makes plastic household equipment.
This module looks at IP licensing with the aim to provide an overview of a licensing agreement and a checklist of things to consider when entering licensing negotiations, either for the purposes of licensing technology to another company (licensing out) or in order to acquire technology from another company (licensing in).
In this workshop participants review certain aspects of patent enforcement and how they are put into practice. To that end five cases presenting five different situations are offered for analysis and review.
Infringement suits are the main legal instrument for enforcing intellectual property rights (IPR) such as patents. The main topics of this module deal with basics of patent infringement suits, risks, chances and how to avoid a patent infringement suit, what the patentee can do and what the alleged infringer can do.