The End of the IPIP Blog, and Going in a New Direction

© 2009 Christopher Paul Mitchell

This blog is definitely what many would call an occational blog.  While I have enjoyed toying with the blogging concept, I believe my time would be better spent going in a new direction – providing even more value to direct clients.  And so, I am discontinuing this blog in favor of integrating more client-resources with my firm’s website, accessible at www.mitchellip.com.   It has been a fun couple of years, and I am sincerely grateful to those who have authored articles for the IPIP Blog.

The Legal Rebels Project

© 2009 Christopher Paul Mitchell

The American Bar Association (ABA) Journal has announced an interesting new project featuring those willing to take chances on new ways of practicing law. And, based on my review, these are truly novel approaches! As stated in the announcement:

Over the course of the next three months, we’ll be profiling 50 of the profession’s leading innovators at http://www.legalrebels.com . The first seven profiles, along with videos and audio slideshows that illustrate the changes they’re trying to make in the practice of law, are now online. We’ll be adding at least three new profiles to the site every week until Thanksgiving.

Check out http://www.legalrebels.com .

Over the course of the next three months, we’ll be profiling 50 of the profession’s leading innovators at http://www.legalrebels.com . The first seven profiles, along with videos and audio slideshows that illustrate the changes they’re trying to make in the practice of law, are now online. We’ll be adding at least three new profiles to the site every week until Thanksgiving.

Practitioners – Are you caught in the Legal Recession?

© 2008 Christopher Paul Mitchell

The American Bar Association (ABA) Journal is doing a survey regarding the current legal recession. Specifically, they are seeking your perspectives about the current state of the legal economy. I personally am hoping this will be a great time for small firms and solo practitioners. What do you think? Take the survey here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=9Dhw2g7bX_2bxfq4mW8eB1Cg_3d_3d

Innovation International Americas Offers IP Owners Key Insights and Best Practices for IP Commercialization

(press release)

New York (September 4, 2008) – The road from invention to commercialization can be a difficult one to navigate. To help IP owners overcome the many challenges lining that path, experts from Innovation International Americas (IIA) have developed a set of best practices uniquely designed to meet the needs of inventors, technology transfer offices, and IP practitioners.  With offices in New York City and the Bay Area serving the global intellectual property community, IIA focuses on streamlining the exchanges between intellectual property owners and organizations seeking to commercialize their IP, enhance their IP portfolios, boost product development strategies, strengthen their position in the marketplace and maximize the return on their IP portfolio investment.

“Based upon our team’s collective expertise, numerous conversations with experts in the field and extensive research, we discovered that the individuals behind inventions are oftentimes ill-equipped to address the pragmatic concerns of potential licensees for their IP,” commented Douglas Adams, vice president of technology commercialization at IIA. “The real-world benefits of new technology can get lost in translation when a technically-savvy inventor attempts to communicate them to a product development or marketing executive, for instance.”

With that in mind, IIA executives offer clients three essential tips for the successful commercialization of IP:

1. Know the marketplace. Who are your competitors both market-wise and research-wise? So many times inventors have met their competitors but haven’t focused on licensing. Nurture those relationships.
2. Highlight the advantages. Inventors often take for granted the advantages of their invention, but they make all the difference in the world when they’re talking to the marketplace. You should also evaluate advantages that might exist for your IP in entirely different marketplaces.
3. Speak the right language. If you’re too technical in your pitch, you risk losing the interest of business development, licensing or technology transfer departments. Inventors and IP owners love to talk about their technology using scientific terms, but business people often don’t understand those terms. To complicate things even further, there may be a cultural or language gap. Find someone to bridge that gap. Outside companies like IIA can help translate your invention into market language.

About Innovation International Americas
Based in New York City and the Bay Area, Innovation International Americas (IIA) is a premier provider of IP commercialization services to companies and academic institutions. IIA offers a full suite of services to help customers maximize the value of their companies, generate and maintain revenue streams, as well as continue to foster innovation. IIA services include IP marketing, in/out licensing, IP valuation and IP assessment. For more information visit http://www.iiaip.com.