Ibm Case Analysis

Objective: To make an attempt to study how IBM late in 1998 under the visionary of Lou Gerstner, Head of IBM concerned with the low returns the company made on its R&D investments; Transformed the company into todays most successful company in terms of holding the highest patents and also monetizing on the same increasing its returns to a greater fold. The study attempts to study how IBM has been able to consistently leverage its IPR.

MINING PATENTS FOR GOLD: A BRIEF HISTORY ON HOW IT STARTED IN IBM:

While the IBMers had to find a way out to make revenues on the investments made into R&D, The team under Lou Gerstner proposed a strategy. The strategy was christened as “IBM’s OEM strategy”. They catered to the OEMs. They

It operates across 170 countries. The WPST tracks all the elements of its IP portfolio like ideas, innovation, productivity, value, legal, monitor, monetize wherever possible, opportunities and the like. The framework manages the entire IP during its lifecycle. The WPST constantly evolves and builds up to the external forces[ political, economical, social, technology ]. IBM effectively manages its strategy, innovation and infrastructure.

The steps practiced [ plan, create and leverage ]

IP strategy: Tie strategy and innovation. Focus on un met and under met needs.

IP landscape: identify un penetrated, non-traditional subjects and patent as possible.

Assess: find any gaps and risks and put in counter

Manage & Monetize: focus on the war chest and churn value as much as possible.

Analyse & adjust: focus in innovation while still being agile to the environment

IBM has around a team of 200,000 around the world, being a active partner in the innovation. They are highly motivated to partner along and to develop patents. The teams are also given the need list to work on with to develop patent. The internal review board suggest which all inventions to be kept as trade secret, patent or defensive publish.to monetize IP, The portfolio team works on the right mix for each geography. IP sale executives do traditional selling. They also tell the Innovators team which needs to pursue and also keep a watch on who all are infringing the IBM patents to sue or stick them.

THE IP MANTRA:

Monetize the Patents: IBM has three revenue streams in terms of monetizing its