Know whether a product upgrade renders obsolete any IP interests

ActionIntel
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intelligence driving action optimizing performance
Know whether a product upgrade renders obsolete any IP interests
As our name suggests, Relevant IP is committed to making sure that (1) our clients’ IP is
relevant to their business, and (2) that their business is relevant to the market.
Intelligence drawn from how we connect the dots among clients’ products and IP interests
forewarns clients about the consequences of changes thereto, such as whether a product
upgrade renders obsolete any IP interests.
Relevant IP tracks clients’ products and the features thereof that drive consumer demand.
We also constantly evaluate the existence, development and cessation of the critical
relationships among these products and features, and among the features and any IP
claims.
Understanding these critical relationships and any contingent concerns ultimately leads to
decisions, like thoughtful disposition of an IP asset rendered obsolete by a product
upgrade, that enhance revenue and reduce cost.
Feature
Claim IP Interest
Feature
Feature
Product

ActionIntel
Let us assume that Automobile A is scheduled for an upgrade to its antilock braking
system. An upgrade essentially is a new feature becoming available and an existing
feature discontinuing. When the existing feature discontinues, any IP covering that feature
becomes disconnected from the product. Absent other products or purposes, the IP would
become irrelevant to the business, hence ripe for licensing, sale, or simply maintenance
cessation.
To find out what IP interests might be rendered obsolete by a product upgrade, start by
locating and selecting the soon-to-be-upgraded product from the commercial interest
listing to view its associated features.

ActionIntel
The associated features list shows the existing and new ABS features, ABS-1 and ABS-2.
Relevant to the existing ABS feature, select the “IP Interests” button to see what IP
interests cover it, if any.

ActionIntel
The “IP Interests” window shows all IP interests that cover the existing feature.

ActionIntel
Select each IP interest
(only one in this
scenario) to view
all features that the IP
interest covers.
In sum, upgrading
(discontinuing) ABS-1
impacts IP interest
0001, which does not
cover any other
features, So, unless
the ABS-1 feature is
included in any other
product, then
discontinuing the ABS-
1 feature would
disconnect the 0001
patent from the
business because it
no longer covers any
of its products.

ActionIntel
Finally, close the last
two windows and,
from the features
listing, again relevant
to the ABS-1 feature,
select the
“Commercial
Interests” button to
see what other
commercial interests
include the feature.

ActionIntel
The “Commercial
Interests” window
shows all of the
commercial interests
that include the
existing feature.
In conclusion, since only
the product from which
the ABS-1 feature is
discontinued includes the
ABS-1 feature, and since
IP interest 0001 does not
cover any other features,
discontinuing the ABS-1
feature would disconnect
the 0001 patent from the
business because it no
longer covers any of its
products, rendering it
obsolete and ripe for
alternative exploitation or
retirement.

ActionIntel
Let setting aside a few minutes to discuss ActionIntel be your next action step toward
optimizing your business’ performance.
Contact:
Bill Bonk
wbonk@RelevantIP.com
301.915.0950 x701

Know whether a product upgrade renders obsolete any IP interests

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Know whether a product upgrade renders obsolete any IP interests