JiNan Glasgow George – IAM

What are the key characteristics of an excellent IP strategy?

First, informing IP strategy requires an inventory of potential assets. Research and analysis is also needed to provide contextual data for making business decisions about which forms of intellectual property will provide the best, most valuable rights. Most companies and individuals simply file for a patent application without conducting prior art research, but without data it is impossible to know what the likelihood of success is for each application. The same can be said for trademark applications. Conducting contextual research and then differentiating from what is relevant increases the likelihood of success, and often reducing the length of time and cost of prosecution. Continuation practice for patents in the US is also important to preserve access to the priority filing date. Every invention is improved upon at some point and continuation-in-part filings can expand a portfolio to include new material. 

The AI space is going through a period of profound and rapid change. How do you stay abreast of the latest technological developments? 

While machine learning and AI has been evolving over the past few decades, the rapid commercial impact following the release of ChatGPT has accelerated AI applications. Monitoring informal publications – including blogs and podcasts with interviews from experts – is helpful for increasing awareness of trends and new applications of AI. We also use Patent Forecast data to track investment patterns. Since you must file patents before public use or publication is allowed, patent data is a leading indicator that can be leveraged for business intelligence.
 

What are your predictions for the future of the US licensing landscape, and how are you helping clients prepare?

United States licensing activity must improve or it will become irrelevant; most patents make no commercial impact through licensing or monetisation, and most companies could increase their likelihood of success if they considered data before creating their IP assets. We advise all clients to follow a data-driven approach to creating and licensing IP assets.  At Neo IP, we use Patent Forecast software as a research, analysis and visualisation tool that provides direction for investment in IP assets with a view toward commercialisation, licensing or sale of these.

You founded the annual Eclipse IP Futures Conference – celebrating its 10th anniversary in October – to explore critical trends across the IP landscape. What makes the event so important to you, and what value does it provide for practitioners?

We launched Eclipse to go beyond litigation-based licencing conferences, exploring IP concepts such as strategy, asset development, valuation and all kinds of monetisation. Every year, we explore the future of science and technology sectors, covering content from cryptocurrency and blockchain to medical device innovations and longevity, electric power grids and communication to space tech and AI. Last year we enjoyed stunning keynote presentations from Silvina Moschini (the first Latina unicorn), co-founder of the Unicorn Hunters show and fund, and most recently from Unicoin. This year we’ll also be exploring AI, intellectual property in the age of AI, and the importance of data as intellectual property, including how to value and monetise it across different sectors. Eclipse is directed towards investors and entrepreneurs, not IP practitioners. We bring together participants from across the United States and globally to explore creative collaboration, including start-up funding and licensing. We value relationships over transactions and this approach is working to make a positive commercial impact. Every year we note investment, licencing or other business deals to follow this exciting conference format.

What does inspiring leadership look like at Neo IP, and how has this evolved over the last decade?

As an IP practitioner in my 25th year of legal patent practice, I founded Neo IP to help innovators make a positive change in society by transforming ideas into assets that have commercial impact for businesses. We have evolved to help connect our clients to the resources they need to realise this. Sometimes, companies in their early stages need capital resources through equity or debt financing, other times they need business partnerships or human capital resources. Over the last decade we’ve inspired innovators and investors to collaborate through direct introductions and through our invitation-only Eclipse IP Futures Conference. Most recently, we are leading investment in young companies. By supporting venture and private equity funds with data-driven IP diligence and strategy, we can increase the likelihood of success for innovation-based portfolio companies. Last year, I became High Point University’s IP Expert in Residence to support young entrepreneur students.