AI Just Made SEP Claim Mapping 80% Faster – 600 Hours of Human Work to 14 Days
In SEP licensing, a declaration costs almost nothing, but challenging it costs a fortune. Across 5G, 4G LTE, HEVC, and Wi-Fi, rigorous independent reviews consistently show that 30% to 60% of declared portfolios are non-essential. This isn’t just a margin of error; it is a predictable outcome of declaration systems designed for speed, not verification. […]
Samsung Lost $278 Million. Google Challenged the Same Patents at PTAB in 2026!
Fifty-one proceedings in March 2026. The number alone is the first signal worth reading. By the time these petitions were filed, Director Squires had centralized institution decisions, removed diagnostic reasoning from summary denials, and presided over an institution rate that bottomed near zero in the October-November 2025 window. The practitioners who filed in March knew […]
PTAB New Rules in 2026: Trends, Tensions & the Future of Patent Disputes
Since 2025, the U.S. patent system has moved into a period of active recalibration, with the PTAB at the center of policy, legal, and industry debate. Recent congressional discussions and USPTO actions frame this shift as an effort to restore balance by prioritizing patent quality, predictability, and rights that reliably support investment and commercialization. At […]
Product to Patent Mapping Strategy to Align with German Patent Tax Laws
Marcus, senior patent counsel at a global networking equipment manufacturer, contacted us with an unusual request. His company’s German subsidiary faced a tax penalty. The German Tax Authority challenged the transfer pricing structure, specifically questioning whether the European patents licensed to the subsidiary were actually used in products generating revenue in Germany. Marcus’s request was […]
More Suits, Faster Courts, Bigger Pools. How Automotive OEMs Can Negotiate Strongly in 2026?
Over 100,000 patent families have been declared essential to 4G and 5G standards. A growing share of licensing campaigns built on that number are now targeting vehicle manufacturers. The shift is deliberate. Smartphone licensing has largely matured, and most major handset manufacturers are already under agreement. Automotive is the next major market, and licensors are […]
Largest Patent Buyers in 2025 and What Their Acquisitions Signal
In February 2025, Peninsula Technologies acquired 364 patents from Ofinno, and in April 2025, Dish Wireless was sued. With just 63 days, the acquisition-to-enforcement window of licensing companies has shrunk from years to weeks, and the need to be on the toes with these acquisition activities has never been higher. Peninsula Technology’s purchase was among […]
Hidden Risks in Chemical FTO Searches & 6 Practical Strategies for a Successful Product Launch
In the chemical domain, freedom-to-operate (FTO) risk extends far beyond what is immediately visible from a product’s composition or a process flow diagram. Unlike mechanical or electronic inventions, where infringement analysis is often confined to directly claimed structural or functional features, chemical products and processes operate within a highly interconnected ecosystem. At the same time, […]
Building Your 2026 Cellular IoT Licensing Strategy: What the Data Now Reveals
The licensing framework for Cellular IoT technologies, including NB-IoT, LTE-M, RedCap, and V2X, is quickly becoming unreliable. This is happening because the standardization process itself is evolving rapidly, with each IoT technology entering the market at a different pace and with varying levels of patent involvement. Multiple factors drive the shift in this Cellular IoT […]
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 […]
Inside Disney’s Patent Strategy: Filings, Litigation Trends, and Licensing Power
For over a century, Disney has captivated audiences worldwide, blending storytelling magic with technological marvel. Behind the enchanting characters and immersive experiences lies a meticulously managed intellectual property portfolio, a testament to Disney’s unwavering commitment to innovation. As the entertainment landscape rapidly evolves, Disney’s strategic IP management, encompassing a robust patenting program and agile litigation […]
Inside General Motor’s Patent Strategy in Automotive: Filings, Litigation Trends, and Licensing Power
The automotive industry stands at an inflection point, driven by transformative shifts towards electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and advanced connectivity. In this landscape, intellectual property (IP) has become a paramount strategic asset, defining competitive advantage and shaping future innovations. General Motors (GM), a titan in global mobility, exemplifies how a proactive and sophisticated IP strategy […]
Inside Philips’ Patent Strategy: Filings, Litigation Trends, and Licensing Power
In the dynamic world of healthcare technology, consumer electronics, and smart solutions, innovation is the lifeblood of progress. Few companies embody this spirit as profoundly as Philips, a global powerhouse with a rich history of pioneering advancements. Beyond its renowned products, Philips’ intellectual property (IP) portfolio stands as a testament to its strategic foresight and […]
4 Expert-Validated FTO Tools to Simplify Complex Patent Searches in 2025
Traditional Boolean-heavy methods, when performing Freedom to Operate (FTO) search, once served well, but they now feel like hand tools in a power-tool era. Spending hours crafting Boolean strings, reviewing endless irrelevant results, and manually chasing down legal status updates, only to end up with static reports or internal analyses that go stale within days. […]
Inside MediaTek’s Patent Strategy in 5G: Filings, Litigation Trends, and Licensing Power
In the fiercely competitive landscape of telecommunications and semiconductors, a company’s intellectual property portfolio is not merely a collection of assets; it is a dynamic testament to its innovation prowess, market influence, and strategic foresight. Few companies embody this more clearly than MediaTek, a global leader in designing and manufacturing cutting-edge chips for mobile devices, […]