Accessing the Global Intellectual Property Market: Intelligent Decisions about Patent Protection

Abstract

Patent protection can be a tremendously useful tool for transferring technology from the research laboratory to the commercial marketplace. However, many misconceptions exist – especially in the academic world – about how to effectively and efficiently make use of patent protection. By overcoming some of the common myths and making informed decisions about when and where to pursue patent protection, research institutions and their scientists can benefit significantly. Patent protection is available across a wide range of technologies, but the availability of patent protection alone may not be a sufficient basis upon which to determine whether to pursue patent protection. This is because the mere availability of patent protection does not necessarily equate to commercial viability of the underlying technology. Thus, a further analysis of the technology's commercial potential can be quite important in making informed decisions about the patent process.