Managing Your Patent Asset Efficiently: A Guide

The TIP tool, a groundbreaking innovation in patent management, is set to revolutionise the way businesses approach intellectual property (IP) expenditure. By providing self-service information to users, TIP aims to reduce overall patent costs, making IP management more accessible and efficient for companies of all sizes.

One of the key features of the TIP tool is its personalised information service. Inventors can effortlessly view a list of patent applications that bear their name, along with the current status of each application and a copy or the application as filed. This feature ensures transparency and ease of access, saving time and resources for all involved.

The TIP tool is designed with role-based access in mind, offering open access to personalised information for each user. This means that company leaders can find which applications cover features relating to a particular product or service offering, while inventors can focus on their specific areas of expertise.

Effective strategies for tailoring patent portfolios vary between small and large companies, but share core principles of alignment with business objectives and metric-driven management. For small companies, a focused strategy is often optimal, involving the identification and patenting of high-value, core inventions directly tied to immediate business goals and market opportunities. This approach ensures resources are efficiently used, avoiding filing for patents with limited commercial utility.

Large companies, on the other hand, often pursue broader coverage across technologies, geographies, and product lines to defend extensive market presence and multiple innovation streams. This can involve maintaining a mix of patents for short-term market needs and long-term strategic innovations, protecting both foundational and adjacent technologies to complicate competitor replication.

Aligning patent portfolio strategies with business objectives is crucial for both small and large companies. This alignment translates strategic priorities into concrete patent filing, maintenance, and enforcement decisions, maximising IP value and competitive advantage. Key performance indicators (KPIs) and innovation metrics tailored to specific goals—such as protecting core technologies, exploring new market segments, or accelerating product launches—help companies track portfolio health and strategic impact across different innovation stages.

The TIP tool's high-level dashboard for company leaders covers the entire patent portfolio, providing information in a simple and timely manner. This dashboard is tied to specific products or features incorporated into many products, making it easier for leaders to understand the IP protection for their offerings. The dashboard interfaces also allow for tagging patent applications to tie them to specific products or features, further enhancing the tool's utility.

In summary, the TIP tool offers a powerful solution for businesses seeking to streamline their patent management processes. By providing transparent, personalised, and role-based access to patent information, TIP empowers inventors and company leaders alike to make informed decisions about their IP strategies. Whether a company is small or large, focused or broad in its innovation approach, TIP's metrics-driven management tools can help align patent portfolios with strategic objectives, enabling optimised IP investment, competitive defence, and innovation leverage.

For more information about the TIP tool, including product tours and dashboard examples, visit the Triangle IP website.

The TIP tool offers a personalised information service, enabling inventors to view their list of patent applications, including the application status and a copy of the application as filed.
Effective patent portfolio strategies for small companies often involve focusing on high-value, core inventions directly tied to immediate business goals and market opportunities.
The TIP tool's high-level dashboard for company leaders covers the entire patent portfolio, providing information about IP protection for specific products or features.
Aligning patent portfolio strategies with business objectives is crucial for both small and large companies, as it translates strategic priorities into concrete patent filing decisions.
The TIP tool interfaces allow patent applications to be tagged to specific products or features, further enhancing the tool's utility in managing a company's intellectual property portfolio.