Why Traditional Vendor Reports Fall Short in Patent Licensing Negotiations & How to Fix it
Licensing teams rarely struggle because the technical work is incomplete. They struggle because the work arrives in pieces. SEP analysis is performed separately. Prior art studies follow a different methodology. Prosecution history reviews sit in another report. Global families appear in yet another spreadsheet. The problem arises in how these inputs reach the licensing team, […]
Paying $7K a Patent with No ROI? A University Patent Monetization Strategy That Works
Across the U.S., academic tech transfer is under strain. In 2023, U.S. institutions reported a 33% year-over-year decline in patent licenses. Meanwhile, unused patents keep costing money. Utility patents require three maintenance payments at 3.5/7.5/11.5 years. After the 2025 fee changes, large-entity fees total $14,470 ($2,150 + $4,040 + $8,280). Small-entity nonprofits (which include many […]
The Rise of New Entrants in 6G Standardization
As 6G standardization takes shape, the landscape is already showing signs of fragmentation. 6G Core: Telecom vs. Non-Telecom Who is Leading the Future Standards? 3GPP Contribution Split: The convergence of telecom incumbents and non-telecom innovators. Click or hover on a segment for details. 3GPP Contributors Participation 57% 43% Telecom Incumbents Established leaders focusing on core […]
Need to Estimate Damages Fast? The Only Patent Valuation Checklist You’ll Ever Need
There’s no shortage of data when it comes to patent valuation. Legal guidelines, product specs, and market figures are easily accessible. But in practice, these pieces often don’t connect. Patent claims are analyzed, but they’re not always linked to how products work. Market relevance is understood, but it’s often not presented in a way that […]
4,216 WiFi-7 Patents Reviewed to Reveal the Real SEP Landscape
Similar to previous Wi-Fi standards, there has been an influx of patent declarations for Wi-Fi 7, with over 4000 families related to WI-FI 7. Distinguishing between truly Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) and self-declared patents that may not actually meet essentiality criteria is increasingly difficult. With so many patents declared as “essential” but lacking independent verification, […]
4 Smart Strategies for Patent Owners to Get Better Licensing Deals on SEPs
From 2015 to 2020, new Standard Essential Patent (SEP) families in telecom jumped threefold from 6,457 to 17,623. The 5G standard alone accounts for over 150,000 declared patents since 2015. Despite this increase, implementers continue challenging essentiality claims and pushing back on royalty demands for SEP Licensing. Essentiality checks are performed with different evaluation methods […]
Get higher value in SEP licensing with advanced claim mapping strategies
If your SEP licensing efforts are falling short of expectations due to licensee rebuttals, it’s time to rethink your approach. One common misstep is focusing only on a single stage of 3GPP standards when preparing claim charts. This leaves important details out, creating gaps that licensees can challenge, such as missing technical explanations or incomplete […]
A Comprehensive Guide on How to Patent an Idea
Before you go running to the patent office to get a patent, there’s a lot you need to know. Getting a patent is not as simple as getting a copyright/trademark, it’s much complicated, time-consuming, and even expensive. Before filing a patent, you ought to be aware of the nitty-gritty of patenting and patent law – […]
The drone that reacts to your emotions – Inside IBM’s next-gen drone patent
In early 2021, GreyB identified one of IBM’s drone patents, US10040551B2, as a prime asset for food delivery companies. Eight months later, DoorDash acquired this patent to strengthen its portfolio! The patent discussed a drone system capable of autonomously sensing when someone might need a coffee and delivering it on demand. Building on this forecast, […]
Truly standard-essential patents? A systematic approach to SEP Ranking
Identifying Standard Essential Patents not only helps leverage IP rights effectively but also invests in acquiring the right set of patents. Traditional methods of ranking Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) often rely on purely objective parameters like the number of citations, claim length, and time to grant. For instance, focusing on citation count alone may result […]
How Alibaba Could Slash $60,000 from Its Patent Costs with This Tool!
Kodak, once a giant in the photography industry, spent millions annually on patent maintenance fees even as their revenue dwindled. Many of these patents were no longer aligned with their strategic goals or market needs, leading to unnecessary financial strain without corresponding returns. This contributed to Kodak’s struggle to pivot and innovate effectively, ultimately leading […]
Stop Overpaying for Non-SEPs: Verify the Patents’ True Standard-Essential Status
With the rise in patent filings and the rapid development of industry standards like 3GPP, ITU-T, and IEEE, the number of Standard Essential Patent (SEP) declarations has surged. This increase means that not all the declared standard essential patents will be true SEPs. Buying or licensing such patents will cause significant financial and legal problems […]
10 Proven Patent Licensing & Monetization Strategies for Business Growth
A common challenge in creating a patent licensing and monetization strategy is establishing a balance between patent protection and generating significant revenue. Many companies struggle to capitalize on their patents. On average, only 5-10% of a company’s patents are licensed out, indicating a large number of patents are underutilized. On the other hand, companies like […]
Wi-Fi 7 Standard Technologies and Top Innovators Leading the Patent Surge
The WiFi-7 standard, 802.11be, is almost finalized and will be completed by late 2024. This has prompted early product launches, showcasing the intense competition in the market. This scenario isn’t new. Each new generation of standards sees the emergence of new players while established leaders maintain their positions and others fall behind. Therefore, as licensing […]
6G Technology Discussions Begin & this Automotive Giant Takes the Lead
While 5G is still being developed and implemented, the 3GPP has already initiated discussions on 6G technology. Given the transformative impact of 5G across various industries, 6G innovation will extend far beyond telecommunications. This expanding scope attracts active involvement from companies outside the traditional telecom sector. Companies should anticipate a broader range of intellectual property […]
The Only Tool You Need To Determine Potential Standard Essential Patents
Technical standards, evolving technologies, and scattered patent declarations complicate the process of determining standard essential patents (SEPs). This is further complicated by the need for manual searches across various databases, which are time-consuming and prone to errors and omissions. However, what if there was a solution that could simplify this process? GreyB’s 3GPP tool addresses […]