By Christian Hackl EKSPLA, a Lithuanian SME set up in 1992, started off supplying customised high-performance laser systems to scientific laboratories. It later extended its product range to standardised laser systems for industrial applications. The move to producing standardised lasers made IP more important. EKSPLA now owns twelve patent families.
By Alexander Wurzer, Theo Grünewald, Wolfgang Fischer and Axel Karl The phenomena subsumed under the keywords of “fourth industrial revolution” and “Internet of Things” (IoT) is transforming the industrial landscape. With business models in the B2C and B2B segments adapting to these developments, the role of IP—and in particular that
By Christian Hackl As established players in the industry did not take the start-up Orcan and its new technology seriously, Orcan had to pivot its business model and go the arduous path to develop and install stand-alone products by themselves. Nevertheless, they still had to convince established players to become
By Thomas Bereuter, Yann Ménière and Ilja Rudyk This article introduces the SME case studies which are the focus of this special issue. It provides an overview of the companies involved, and looks at the main conclusions drawn by the studies on how to address the common challenges of IP
By Erik Verbraeken It has been quite some time that I have not updated the “Exhaustion Theory Is Not Yet Exhausted” series. In the latest edition stemming from March 2014, the focus was laid on several U.S. decisions where the IP right holder contested that he had consented to a
John HornickFinnegan At first blush, a world where parts and products are 3D printed at home or on the factory floor may seem like a potential IP licensing bonanza. In reality, 3D printing may create some IP licensing opportunities and destroy others.
Glenn PerdueKraft Analytics LLC Human beings are hardwired to assess risk and return. Whether driving faster to avoid being late for a meeting or demanding more equity to invest in a deal, we constantly consider the tradeoffs between risk and what we stand to gain by accepting that risk.
Gerhard PlasonigWoodWelding SA Pernilla (Kvist) PlasonigWoodWelding SA Martina SerafiniWoodWelding SA Evan LaBuzettaWritling Language Consultants, Ltd. When Swiss researchers invented a method for using ultrasonic energy to infuse thermoplastics into wood and other porous materials, they found themselves in a challenging business position. The technology created a near-instant, very stable bond
Ilaria MaggioniRKunstadtPC In Kirtsaeng v. Wiley, the Supreme Court ruled that once a copyrighted work has been sold by its owner anywhere in the world, it is free to be resold—including by importation into the U.S. itself. Hence, under U.S. copyright law a doctrine of “worldwide exhaustion of rights” now applies.
James AnglehartAnglehart et al The framework of patent application priority and the first-inventor-to-file system, as well as the importance of including such issues in managing your business.
