Finding Key Patents
Finding key patents is the work of picking out the assets in a portfolio that are worth monetizing. Most portfolios hold a small number of patents that carry the value, and a much larger number that don't. We help you find the few, quickly.
Who it's for: portfolio owners looking for monetizable assets, brokers preparing a package for sale, and investors or acquirers who need to know which patents in a portfolio carry the value.
The tool ranks. Analysts decide.
We combine manual analysis with analysis on our proprietary patent ranking tool. Neither is enough alone.
Statistical ranking
The tool performs statistical analysis across the portfolio and ranks the patents. It works on signals that can be counted, so it pushes likely candidates to the top quickly.
Manual review
Analysts examine the medium to high-ranked patents by hand. They read a claim against a product or a market, which a tool cannot do, to judge commercialization potential.
From whole portfolio to shortlist
Each stage narrows the field until you are left with the assets that can be monetized, and the reasoning behind each one.
Whole portfolio
Every patent is ranked by the tool.
Medium to high-ranked
Analysts review these by hand.
Highest-ranked
Commercialization potential is assessed.
Shortlist
Monetizable patents, each with its reasoning.
Bar widths are illustrative. The number of patents at each stage depends on your portfolio.
Who uses it
Portfolio owners
Looking for monetizable assets in a portfolio they already hold.
Brokers
Preparing a package for sale and needing to explain its value to a buyer.
Investors and acquirers
Who need to know which patents in a portfolio carry the value.
What to bring
- The portfolio, as a list of patent or publication numbers
- Assignee names or a family list, as long as the scope is clear
- What monetization means to you, such as licensing an operating company or preparing for sale
- Any patents already asserted, licensed, or flagged internally
What happens with the shortlist
- Owners take the identified assets into claim charts and evidence of use, the next step towards a licensing approach
- Brokers and sellers use it to build a package and explain its value to a buyer
- Owners can also use it to decide which low-ranked patents to let lapse
What you receive
- A statistical ranking of the portfolio from our proprietary patent ranking tool
- A manual review of the medium to high-ranked patents
- An assessment of commercialization potential for the highest-ranked assets
- A shortlist of the patents identified as monetizable, with the reasoning behind each
Frequently asked questions
What is finding key patents?
It is the identification of the monetizable assets inside a patent portfolio. Most portfolios contain a small number of patents that carry the licensing or sale value, and a much larger number that do not. Our tool ranks the portfolio statistically, and analysts then examine the medium to high-ranked patents for commercialization potential.
Why use manual analysis alongside the ranking tool?
Ranking narrows the field, and judgement decides. Statistical analysis works on signals that can be counted across a whole portfolio, so it is good at pushing likely candidates to the top. It cannot read a claim against a product or a market. Manual review of the medium to high-ranked patents does that, so the tool sets the order and the review determines whether an asset can actually be commercialized.
What do we need to supply?
The portfolio, as a list of patent or publication numbers. Assignee names or a family list works too, as long as the scope is clear. It helps to say what monetization means to you, since a portfolio aimed at licensing to an operating company is read differently from one being prepared for sale. Name any patents already asserted, licensed, or flagged internally so the review builds on what is known.
How are the results used afterwards?
The shortlist becomes the starting point for monetization. Owners take the identified assets into claim charts and evidence of use, which is the next step towards a licensing approach. Brokers and sellers use the same shortlist to build a package and explain its value to a buyer. Owners also use it the other way round, to decide which low-ranked patents to let lapse.
Find the patents that carry the value
Send us the portfolio and tell us what you want to do with it, and we'll scope the ranking and review.
