Historically a large factor in the valuation of  a company would the value of tangible assets. However in more recent times there has been a significant shift to valuations based on intangible assets such as intellectual property. Recent research has indicated that intangible assets account for 80% of the total value of companies.

With the stakes being so high, IP related risks such as counterfeit products, patent litigation, trademark disputes and data hacking pose a significant risk and companies need a coherent strategy to manage it.

How to mitigate IP related risks

To mitigate against IP risk requires the implementation of processes, methods and tools across projects, business units or complete organisations. IP risk management involves understanding, analysing and addressing IP related risk. There should be an integrated and joined up approach to managing IP related risks.

There are a variety of risk mitigation techniques such as:

• Raising awareness of the importance of IP across the organisation
• Leveraging technical cooperation with others
• Using Standards with fit for purpose IP policies
• Obtaining indemnities
• Participating in patent pools
• Licensing IP
• Designing around
• Finding prior art to invalidate 3rd party IP
• IP acquisition
• Taking out IP insurance

What are the components of a good IP risk management solution

IP risk management is not easy and a number of components need to be in place for a company to truly master this aspect of IP.  As a guide it is recommended the theses fundamental components are implemented:

• Good IP and IP related Risk awareness and education
• A robust fit for purpose IP Risk Management process
• IP Risk Management system / tool
• Data (IP related risks, actions, documents, reports)
• A variety of IP Risk Mitigation solutions
• IP Risk Management resourcing (people, budget)
• Proper IP Risk Management governance

Why utilise an IP risk management tool

The typical feature set of an IP risk management tool will include:

• A description of the IP related risk
• The impact should this event actually occur
• The probability of its occurrence
• Risk score (the multiplication of probability and impact)
• A summary of the planned response should the event occur
• A summary of the mitigation (the actions taken in advance to reduce the probability and/or impact of the event)
• Links to any associated documentation

We can supply Alder full featured IP risk management tool and optional IP services 

Download Alder IP Risk Management Tool brochure   at    

 Technology Transfer

 Intellectual Property Law