{"id":558,"date":"2023-05-01T15:56:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T13:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/florenus.diekonzeptin.com\/?p=558"},"modified":"2024-04-22T10:17:09","modified_gmt":"2024-04-22T08:17:09","slug":"defensive-patent-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.florenus.com\/en\/defensive-patentstrategie\/","title":{"rendered":"DEFENSIVE PATENT STRATEGY"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Introduction<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The primary aim of a defensive patent strategy is to prevent the patents of other companies from being infringed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

There are various reasons to decide in favour of a more passive attitude with regard to the handling of intellectual property:
<\/span>On the one hand, many entrepreneurs fear a loss of image if they proceed too aggressively - especially if they fail in the last instance. On the other hand, despite a great deal of standardisation, the patent system<\/span>\u00a0legal uncertainty, as well as the risk of \"backfire\" from competing companies.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

As a general rule, companies should familiarise themselves intensively with the patent landscape before making new developments in order to avoid potential infringements. However, one should be aware that every search also has gaps, e.g. due to the fact that patents filed today will not be published for another 18 months.<\/span><\/div>

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The number of patent lawsuits has risen in recent years, particularly in France and Germany.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Fig.1 - Number of patent lawsuits in 2022 (in brackets: comparison with previous year)\u00b9<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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So how can you avoid expensive and time-consuming patent lawsuits without jeopardising your own market position? In the following, we will discuss a few methods.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Method 1 - More patents<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The scope of protection of individual patents is generally limited. This is because nowadays they often differ only slightly from the already known prior art. This is also referred to as a low level of invention. This circumstance means that\u00a0companies apply for more patents, which cumulatively increase the scope of protection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Large patent portfolios have an intimidating effect and make it more difficult for young companies to enter the market. In addition, they provide a certain amount of bargaining power in licence or arbitration proceedings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The disadvantages of a large patent portfolio are obvious: both the development and maintenance are associated with considerable costs, especially for internationally operating companies. There is also a risk that the quality of patent applications will suffer due to the quantity. Against this background, it makes sense to look at more resource-efficient methods...<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Method 2 - Alternative technologies<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Another common component of defensive patent strategies is the so-called \"design arround<\/em>\". Thereby bypasses (eng. design arround<\/em>), alternative technical solutions could be used to infringe the patents of competing companies. The situation would therefore be comparable to an in-house development, except that here you are orientating yourself to the solution of other companies.<\/p>

Instead of striving for in-house development, technical solutions that have already been published can also be realised. This is because only a fraction of the technical solutions disclosed in patents are actually in force.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Fig. 2 - Legal status of German patent documents (May 2023) - own illustration according to LENS.ORG<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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It therefore makes sense to check whether technical solutions have been published in the patent databases and what their legal status is before embarking on new R&D projects.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Method 3 - Licences<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Licensing is a widespread practice and a component - not only - of defensive patent strategies.\u00a0<\/p>

The chances of finding a licensor are influenced by various factors. With a lot of luck, you will find a relevant patent with a so-called declaration of willingness to licence. In this case, the applicant waives his freedom of disposition and design, so that anyone can licence the disclosed technology on fair terms (determined by the patent office if necessary).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In general, licence negotiations can be influenced in various ways, for example by potential licensees declaring their waiver of a \"design arround\" as credibly as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The following types of contracts are the most common:<\/span><\/p>