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.
Why Cross-Licensing Rarely Fits Research Institutes
Cross-licensing can help companies resolve disputes and gain access to complementary technology. This post explores why research institutes, which primarily create IP for licensing rather than product sales, may gain less from reciprocal patent rights.
Talent Mobility and Innovation Ecosystems
A strong spin-off ecosystem depends on more than intellectual property and venture capital. This post uses Silicon Valley as a comparison to explore how talent mobility, shared knowledge, and legislation shape opportunities for innovation.
Global IP Trends in WIPO’s 2024 Report
WIPO’s 2024 indicators provide a snapshot of global intellectual property activity. This post highlights patent filing patterns, Finland’s performance, international applications, and women’s participation in invention, drawing on the report’s historical data.
Freedom to Operate Before Commercialization
Third-party patents can restrict commercialization regardless of how research was funded. This post explores the role of freedom-to-operate analysis in identifying barriers before substantial investment and supporting more informed research and financing decisions.
Changing Finland’s IP Culture
An interview with Kolster examines how Finnish industry uses intellectual property as a business asset. This post introduces the discussion and frames shortcomings in IP strategy and licensing as opportunities for business growth.
Why Research Institutes Hesitate Over Exclusivity
Exclusive licensing can conflict with a research institute’s wider commercialization mission. This post explores access to future research, public funding concerns, and the strategic reasons an institute may prefer to grant non-exclusive rights.
Closing the Spin-off Readiness Gap
A promising spin-off may still face a funding gap when public support ends before technology is investment-ready. This post explores honest readiness assessments and the timing of commercialization funding in Finnish research organizations.
Measuring the Impact of Spin-offs and Licensing
Spin-off activity produces visible measures of economic impact, while licensing outcomes can be harder to quantify. This post explores those differences and asks when a spin-off may be the most viable route to commercialization.
The Benefits and Risks of Early Licensing
Early technology licensing can offer attractive pricing and an opportunity to influence development. This post weighs those benefits against technical uncertainty and considers how collaboration can improve alignment between a licensee’s needs and research outcomes.
Technology Maturity and Licensing
A granted patent does not necessarily mean the underlying technology is commercially ready. This post explores technology readiness levels and how development uncertainty, investment requirements, and business risk affect technology licensing decisions.
Building an Innovative Culture
An innovative culture grows through consistent management practices and an environment where ideas can be challenged safely. This post explores simpler processes, trust, recognition, and the distinction between constructive skepticism and damaging cynicism.
Do Patents Promote Scientific Progress?
Patents can share technical knowledge while overlapping rights can complicate commercialization. This post explores patent thickets, early disclosure, and the value of patent information as a resource for scientific progress and industrial research.