IP rights are like cannons on an old man-of-war/warship. They are not just cargo that you carry around because they might be useful one day for protection. They are tools of protection, deterrence, and strategic strength. A patent, trademark, design, or other IP right can help defend your market position, keep pirates at bay, support deals, or give investors confidence that your business has something worth protecting. But cannons are heavy. They take up space. They require maintenance. And they are heavy and slow you down. A cannon that is well placed and ready can be extremely valuable. A cannon rusting in the cargo bay is just dead weight.
Firepower with purpose A strong IP right gives a company options. It may protect a key product, block a competitor, support a partnership, or strengthen a negotiation position. In the right situation, it can provide real firepower. But not every cannon needs to stay on deck forever. Products change. Markets move. Competitors disappear. Technologies age. Business priorities shift. An IP right that once looked important may no longer support the direction in which the company is sailing. If it no longer protects anything relevant, it should be questioned.
The IP manager’s role If not the captain, the IP manager should be first mate. Making sure the ship runs well, managing the day-to-day operations, ensuring good morale amongst the crew and just making sure everything runs smoothly. Sometimes the right decision is to maintain. Sometimes it is to license, sell, abandon, or melt into something different entirely. The goal is not to sail with the most cannons. The goal is to sail with the right cannons, ready for use, and enough freedom to change course when the wind turns.
Patent Cockpit guides you on your journey and is your compass, even when time get rough.
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