Abstract

With their patent strategies, technology companies pursue two main objectives: (1) To protect the business's technology lead against imitators and (2) to secure its freedom to operate. The better a company achieves these goals, the better it can exploit its R&D results, be it through exclusivity or through collaboration. 

Examples are discussed that show how the strategy depends of the technical field the company operates in and on its patent position relative to its competitors. A patent management process is presented which leading technology companies use to put their patent strategies into practice.

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Author

Huebner

Dr. Stefan Rolf Huebner

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