IP Exploitation
Metis Partners identify often undervalued or overlooked IP assets in companies and show them how to leverage them e.g. through new IP related revenue streams or new strategies to use their IP to differentiate their business from competitors and accelerate growth.
The Why: Our strategic IP audit process is a benchmark we use to identify, analyse and assess IP in any business and then show them how to exploit that IP better to get a real return on investment.
The What: The most valuable assets in any business are usually made up of IP assets rather than physical assets and often there has been a large investment or similar recognition of value in many of these IP assets as follows:
the know-how retained by key employees
organisational knowledge in company intranets or critical documents
formal IP rights (patents, trademarks and design rights etc.)
the depth of customer relationships and the way they are managed
the corporate brand and brand development strategies
key business processes or ways of doing / delivering services
unique or special external relationships important to the business
proprietary software / systems
company R&D and your track record of innovation
Understanding what you’ve got and where these IP assets are in your business (beyond the usual legally protected IP like patents & trademarks) is a complicated area and is always contextual – working with Metis Partners is a good place to start. We can also narrow the focus of our engagement, supporting management on critical business issues such as:
assessing intellectual property rights (IPR) portfolios
brand development
exploring licensing and other IP exploitation or value release options
negotiating license deals
developing new markets
Benefits: We can also make a few simple promises: we will always speak our minds and make you think about what are the critical elements of your business (your IP assets) that are or could be proprietorial and differentiate you from the competition. We will tell you whether your current business model and use of your IP assets has maximised the valuation of and returns for your business.
We work with management teams in a pragmatic and straight-forward manner, focusing on the ability of the current business model and strategy to maximise the return on IP assets (whether it’s your technical or company know-how or your investment in your brand ) and deliver new revenues and profits.
"We have been impressed with Metis Partners' approach to IP exploitation and some of the strategies and tactics they have employed to help their clients secure commercial deals – they are always trying to add value. In addition, they are nice guys to work with." Gillian Cordall, Partner, IP & Technology Department, Maclay Murray & Spens LLP
© Metis Partners 2008