IBM receives most US patents for 17th consecutive year

After winning the highest number of patents for the 17th year in a row in 2009, IBM will, for the first time, offer its invention know-how and patent portfolio management software to clients seeking to enhance their intellectual property (IP) management capabilities in support of innovation-based growth strategies.

In 2009, just short off the 5,000 mark, IBM received 4,914 patents, its highest tally so far IBM's 2009 patents exceeded the combined patents receivced by Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle, Apple, Accenture and Google, and were nearly four times of its rival Hewlett-Packard's patents during the year .

IBM said that in 2009, in addition to the patents it published almost 4,000 technical inventions, instead of seeking patent protection, thereby making the inventions freely available to others. IBM has released these inventions by publishing them, which makes them freely available in a public database of prior art and can be cited by patent offices in limiting the scope of patent applications.

In a statement, IBM said, "The company's publication effort may also spur follow-on innovation, which enables dynamic business growth."

As part of IBM's plan to help companies build and support a culture of invention and innovation, the company will provide access to its advanced invention and patent portfolio management software and know-how through engagements with clients. This, in turn, can help stimulate growth by supporting development of higher-value patent portfolios.

IBM said in a statement that it's know-how and patent management software can help innovative companies effectively evaluate their patent portfolios, identify new patent opportunities, and more closely align their business and IP strategies.

IBM's patent and IP experts have developed and used the patent management software for over a decade to help analyse, assess and effectively administer its portfolio of more than 30,000 US patents. The software, coupled with the company's own experience, has enabled IBM to balance its patent and intellectual property strategy with its business needs and generate new ways to derive more value from patents.

"We are making our IP know-how and patent management software available because clients have increasingly approached IBM for insights into how to effectively establish and manage their own patent and IP portfolios," said Kevin Reardon, general manager of intellectual property and vice president of research business development for IBM. "This approach is consistent with our commitment to working with others to encourage an environment of collaboration and cooperation in the patent and intellectual property arena."

Under the patent and IP management offering, IBM will provide clients with know-how to help them plan, create and leverage their established or emerging IP portfolios; the guidance will not include legal advice. The know-how IBM will offer can help clients assess an IP infrastructure, identify high potential invention opportunity areas, and build an intellectual property portfolio. IBM also will teach clients about developing and implementing a strategic planning framework, harvesting intellectual property, and establishing culture of innovation. To help clients learn how to leverage their IP, IBM will offer insight on licensing, establishing best-of-breed patent management practices, and ways to help expand market opportunities.

Access to a Lotus Notes-based version of IBM's patent portfolio management software is currently available to clients in know-how engagements, and a Web-based version of the tool is in development for the second-half of 2010. IBM will provide access to expert consultants from its Intellectual Property and Licensing team to help devise a plan that can meet the individual needs of clients interested in using the software.

IBM's patent management know-how offering is immediately available. Pricing will be determined on a case-by-case basis.