Practical perspectives on IP strategy, licensing, and patent enforcement by Kai-Erik Elers. Browse the summaries by topic and follow the links to read the original posts on LinkedIn.
From IP Culture Change to KapelisIP
A long-running discussion about IP as a business asset leads to the launch of KapelisIP. This post introduces the company’s purpose: helping organizations develop, manage, commercialize, and selectively defend intellectual property that supports business growth.
Prioritizing Your Patent Portfolio
A small share of patent families may account for much of a portfolio’s business value. This post uses the Pareto principle to explore strategic definitions of value, evidence gathering, ranking, and decisions about further investment.
IP Strategy for Defense-Relevant Technology
Defense-related innovation can require early decisions about filing routes, confidentiality, and international research teams. This post reflects on a seminar discussing national-security constraints and the balance between patent protection, trade secrets, and commercialization.
Innovation Clusters and IP Commercialization
WIPO’s 2025 innovation index offers a perspective on Helsinki and other technology clusters. This post explores how patent filings, scientific output, and venture capital activity reveal different strengths in innovation and commercialization ecosystems.
Litigation Funding and Settlement Opportunities
Conversations at an LES conference highlight the role of external funding in patent disputes. This post explores settlement incentives, financier risk management, and the potential commercial significance of broader European patent enforcement coverage.
Building a Culture of Patent Enforcement
A university discussion on defending IP rights prompts a wider reflection on European enforcement culture. This post explores strategic, economic, and institutional barriers and asks how organizations can become more credible patent owners.
Patents as Financing Collateral
Patent-rich start-ups may still struggle to obtain loans because IP valuation and liquidation are challenging. This post explores intellectual property as collateral and compares approaches to IP-backed financing across several markets.
Have-Made Rights or Sublicensing?
Outsourced manufacturing does not always require broad sublicensing rights. This post compares have-made arrangements with sublicensing and explores how a narrower grant may meet a start-up’s needs while limiting unnecessary commercial and contractual complexity.
Aligning Licensed Rights With Business Strategy
The rights granted in a license determine how the agreement supports the licensee’s business. This post explores statutory and contractual rights, manufacturing arrangements, and the strategic value of defining what each party can do.
Improvement Clauses and Future Licensing
A licensee’s later patent can complicate the licensor’s plans to offer additional licenses. This post explores how improvement clauses can address that risk and support a sustainable strategy for non-exclusive technology licensing.
Financing Finnish Spin-offs
A successful spin-off needs financing that matches its technology, market, and growth ambitions. This article explores the Finnish venture capital landscape, investor expectations, funding gaps, and the challenges of securing capital beyond early-stage development.
Aligning Licensing With Organizational Values
The use of licensed technology can affect an organization’s mission and values. This post explores licensee selection, exclusivity, fields of application, and contractual choices that help retain influence over how intellectual property is commercialized.