• IP STRATEGY
• IP VALUATION
• IP PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
• REPORTING
• INNOVATION
• PROTECTION
• USE

The Competence Network IP

The Competence Network IP is an association dedicated to the advancement of knowledge in the field of intellectual property (IP) and intellectual property rights as well as related areas of law. The active members of the Competence Network IP contribute years of experience in various fields of IP management. Our membership structure ensures wide coverage of the entire IP value chain - from the creation up to the economic exploitation of industrial property rights (IPRs). This unique structure allows the competence network IP to act as a competent partner regarding all possible questions in relation to the entire life cycle of your intellectual property.

IP strategy - protecting your intellectual property

The one who owns the IP of an innovation will also own the profits. For this and other reasons, Mark Blaxill and Ralph Eckard provide important arguments in their book "The Invisible Edge" why an IP strategy should be at the heart of corporate strategy. Innovative companies being careless in dealing with protection for their innovations will probably make the experience that competitors will catch up quickly and benefit from the investment of the innovator.

The “Competence Network IP” takes a holistic approach to IP strategy from a business perspective, in which all aspects of value creation are covered by the strategic use of IP. In this approach, the IP strategy is to be understood as a central component of an IP value net. The IP value net includes all components of the IP asset life cycle (innovation, protection, use / exploitation) and the respective IP strategy support tools (valuation, portfolio management, reporting / controlling).

The IP strategy defines and controls the IP asset life cycle by

• Representing an interface to the innovation process of the company and thereby defining the protection strategy for the innovation roadmap, as well as identifying "white IP-spots" in the technology landscape of the company to the R & D organization to indicate needs for strategic action
• Targeting the protection of strategically relevant high-quality IPRs (e.g., patents, trademarks, designs, copyrights, etc.) so that the enterprise will actually own its innovation in key technologies or trademarks/designs to successfully and sustainably compete in the market
• Defining the framework for the strategic use and exploitation of IP assets in order to realize the value of the created IPRs in appropriate exploitation scenarios for the company.



To achieve these ambitious goals the IP strategy process is using the following tools

• Valuation or assessment mechanisms for assessing strategic and monetary values of IP assets in different stages of their life cycle (e.g., strategic valuation for selecting IP assets for the IP portfolio development in the innovation or protection phase; monetary assessment in the exploitation phase or for accounting purposes)
• Value-based IP portfolio management (VIPM) for setting the direction and principles for portfolio development and the coordination of actions of the various types IPRs over their respective life cycle
• Reporting or controlling mechanisms that allow measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of innovation and protection efforts of the company as well continuously adapting the IP portfolio strategy to changes in the competitive environment.

Navigate through our website to retrieve more details about the various components of the IP value net and learn how the "Competence Network IP" can support you in your efforts to better manage the IP asset lifecycle.

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