While patents provide early indications of technologies coming from competition they can also be a critical source of intelligence for out-licensing research. Most companies choose to disclose the finer details of their internal research within patents and such information can be crucial for your evidence of use analysis.

Besides revenue generation, out-licensing can help with expansion of business in new markets, faster time-to-market in adjacent geographies and creation of new products despite lack of resources or funds. Patent Databases like PatSeer provide powerful IP analytics with high quality insights to help you with your out-licensing background research.

IP monetization by way of out-licensing or sale is becoming the need of the hour with most patents never generating any ROI. For Universities, Inventors and other NPEs (Non-practicing entities), the only playbook is to monetize the IP assets created by way of out-licensing or a sale. For companies with medium to large IP portfolios, maintenance of existing IP is costly, and monetization can be the only solution to resolve IP budget issues or demands from the stakeholders for the IP department to be more than just a cost-centre.

Before beginning your monetization research, it is necessary to analyse your portfolio and determine what assets can be licensed (or sold). Patent ranking and other qualitative indicators help you save time in identifying core and non-core patents and thereby help in narrowing down the licensable art in your portfolio.