White Space Analysis
Work-around a competitor
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Leapfrog other technology/IP positions
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Exploit technology strengths in new markets
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Fence out competition
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Work-around a competitor • Leapfrog other technology/IP positions • Exploit technology strengths in new markets • Fence out competition •
Identify & anticipate lucrative strategic gaps
Accelerate strong IP portfolios & adapt emerging technologies that can outlast industry disruption
Understand where industry players are actually headed in the IP landscape
Identify innovation, market and technology white spaces to cover in the future, in order to stand out globally
Spot IP portfolio gaps today and fill them tomorrow for business benefit
Create quality patents that can survive validity challenges over time
Design patent filing strategies to speed portfolio & market growth as industries evolve
CASE STUDY: CONSUMER ELECTRONICS UNIVERSITY STARTUP
Patent portfolio development to fill IP strategic white spaces
Perception Partners was contacted by an advisor to a consumer electronics startup. The startup had created circuit-level improvements to an internet-of-things sensor, which it proposed to protect via patenting the circuit design, chip packaging and manufacturing methods. The startup was trying to use a limited IP budget wisely.
Our Intellar dashboards revealed a patent thicket in the IP landscape. Our human and AI experts generated an Intellar IP landscape of key players in the technology area and our team explored it live during an interactive workshop with founders and advisors. A key finding was that the area was very research- and IP-intensive over time, despite the scale of funds raised. Just a few circuit-level patents - especially in manufacturing methods - could make it difficult for the startup (or any acquirer) to detect infringers and enforce the IP in the future.
Recommendation - protect the device, not just the chip. By analyzing the IP landscape in a value chain context (from suppliers to manufacturers to users to aftermarket) we demonstrated that the most valuable protection options for a small patent portfolio were actually closer to the customer: patenting improved mobile devices and services powered by the novel chip design. Patents covering complete mobile devices were shown to be easier to enforce, license and sell.
Better positioning for a higher valuation. By collaborating with the executive team, we were able to suggest a patent strategy that better utilized the startup’s foundational legal budget. The leadership team was able to improve their IP value story and justify a higher valuation during their next round of funding. The advisor who referred us has also provided many referrals since.