Getting the Most From Your IP Budget: Strategies for IP Portfolio Management and Litigation Avoidance

During difficult economic times, companies are pressured to cut budgets, and intellectual property (IP) managers are asked to do even more with less. And when least expected, litigation may be initiated against the company.

This breakfast briefing examined practical steps that IP managers can take to work with reduced IP budgets, maintain an effective IP portfolio, and prepare to defend against an untimely lawsuit. Topics included:

• Strategies for minimizing IP costs without compromising the company’s IP position or the technology’s value
  
• Strategies for delaying litigation costs
  
• Strategies for monetizing existing IP when the company needs funding but investors are scarce
  
• Strategies for delaying and reducing costs for IP rights in foreign countries

This informal, interactive discussion was led by Foley Partner Sam Nguyen, who was joined by Clint Webb, Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Genelabs Technologies, Inc.; Tom Moran, former Foley Of Counsel, and former Director of Patent Law for the US Pharmaceuticals Group of Syntex Corporation; and Gerald Suh, Ph.D., Chief Patent Counsel for Metabolex, Inc.

For questions, please contact Zulaikha Rahim at [email protected].