Just like every other aspect of business, IP divides between those responsible for strategy and others who handle tactics. Tactical decisions take up most of the time: filing for patents, trademarks and other IP rights, and initiating or defending litigation.
IP strategy is the why: the essential requirement that a business owns and uses its IP to maximise the value and minimise the risk to the business. Go back 10 years and there were many who would regard this as a somewhat trite question, answered by ticking one of two boxes: offensive (aka litigation) or defensive (aka freedom to operate).
In collaboration with Cipher, Managing IP has created a forum for this topic to be analysed and discussed. Now in its third year, the MIP IP Corporate Strategy Summit will again be held in London. This year’s programme focusses on a range of topics.
· Recognition that IP is now mainstream. In the keynote address, Frank Dangeard, now a director of both RBS and Symantec, will discuss the C-suite perspective. It is now faintly ridiculous to assume that the board of directors is not interested in IP. With intangibles accounting for the majority of enterprise value, IP is now centre stage.
· Understanding how IP strategy varies across sectors. One of the most powerful forces in the Fourth Industrial Revolution is the importance of artificial intelligence, the internet of things and automation more generally. These issues will be discussed in panels with strategic decision makers from ARM, Philips, Amadeus and ThyssenKrupp.
· The importance of strategic patent intelligence. It is now recognised that analysis and automation of patent, litigation and licensing data can transform how IP is understood and exploited. I will be moderating a panel exploring this, with representatives of Mintel (FMCG), TechInsights (semiconductors) and analytics veteran Steve Halliday (formally Wood McKenzie). We will get a cross-sector view of how a range of industries are now harnessing the insight to be extracted from global patent data.
· How investor and bank attitude is changing. IP Group, as its name suggests, makes intangible value the essence of its investment decisions, and together with Frederic Caillaud and others will discuss just how far the understanding of IP has moved in financial markets.
· How blockchain will improve trust and confidence in patents as an asset class and facilitate greater liquidity. IPwe CEO Erich Spangenberg will lead a discussion on a range of innovative initiatives.
· The importance of data. While data is not strictly an IP right, no IP strategy is complete without an understanding of the issues relating to data creation, ownership and use. While the General Data Protection Regulation has hogged recent headlines, the volume and variety of data in a connected world means that we all need to be prepared for what's coming.
Full details of the programme and speakers are available here.
If you would like to attend, please register your interest here.
To find out about sponsorship opportunities, contact Melanie Petch on +44 207 779 8836 or email mpetch@euromoneyplc.com.
