Understanding Patent Mapping

Inventors in every corner of the globe must be hyper-vigilant when it comes to making sure that their patent isn't a duplicate and is currently useful. Many inventors turn to doing their own research by reviewing trade journals, periodicals and the web to determine whether a patent-filing will be a sound investment. One of the many inventions that have passed in front of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is a method for inventors to evaluate how their invention will make out. This method is called Patent landscape mapping (PLM).

Due to the fact that inventions are being created left and right - particularly in the computer and biotechnology industry - classifying the inventions has become increasingly important. PLM makes an effort to divide these inventions into different patent 'families' that have relationships not dissimilar to a regular human family. Companies that have a significant amount of intellectual property can form their own PLMs that will map their discoveries in relationship to each other. Furthermore, when a potential new discovery comes along, that company can decide whether or not to capitalize on it by adding it to their PLM. In addition to displaying a single company's patents, a good PLM will also show the details of the patents owned by direct competitors. This will give the decision-maker a birds-eye view of the overall marketplace.

PLMs can be future predictors. A company that is interested in patenting a technology that extends light-bulb use may create a PLM that groups the patents of opposing companies together with their own patents. In the PLM, a number of things will be visible, including where companies - big and small - could capitalize the most by purchasing the rights to the new light bulb technology. The viewer will also see if an opposing company is close to coming up with the light bulb technology themselves.

Patent landscape mapping is a quantitative process. Over 50 different mathematical expressions are used to develop the average PLM. A patent map graphically displays individual patents in a geographic or topographic map representation. Each patent family is listed, along with points representing each patent. The fundamental differences between patent maps are related to what the map is to be used for. Some maps are specifically measure a particular group of patents' importance. Other maps, which are more complex, take into account the time at which the patents were approved.

PLMs are usually based upon a simple database which lists patents, their effective dates, their importance and relativity to other patents. Due to the fact that the patent climate is always changing, those that develop PLM databases keep the data up-to-date. In addition to general information about a patent, the good PLM database will monitor legal disputes related to patents and their outcomes. Also, general market trends can be observed in a multi-faceted PLM that contains overall market revenue versus time.

There is a variety of companies and places that develop patent maps for clients. Over the past five years, many patent law firms have included the production of a patent map as part of their services. Consulting companies exist that are devoted to creating patent maps for the inventor. Software has been developed that create PLMs through a process of human-based computing. When deciding to go after that patent, you will find that having a patent map made for you by a qualified source will assist with your decision making.