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PatentShield

Be the diner, not the dinner

It's the law of the jungle in the startup world.

Tech entrepreneurs are disruptors by nature – to start a tech company, one needs brilliant new ideas, money, and true grit. Startups are tough places to work, but are the crucible of technology innovation and disruption. Once a hot startup comes out of the fog of incubation, it gets people’s attention – investors, employees, and customers. It’s an exhilarating ride. Then the competition notices you. Competitors come in many flavors, ranging from other startups and small companies in your market to big entrenched companies that you’re seeking to disrupt.

The stage is set – the competition readies for action. Your idea is novel, your execution is brilliant, your team is the best in the world, and then bang – you get sued for patent infringement by a big company.

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Suing a potential disruptor for patent infringement is a tactic that is often employed by incumbents. Many large companies have huge patent portfolios, large legal departments, and deep pockets. The startup under attack has to defend, which is an expensive and risky proposition. Regardless of the merits, these attacks often result as a drain on the startup’s funding and as a distraction to the management team. They can be timed during funding events, right before an exit, or during key product roll outs, when the startup is expending maximum funds and is focusing on getting its product into the market.

Access to credible patents to assert in a countersuit is a key resource needed to defend against a patent infringement suit. Only by having patents to assert against the incumbent can a start-up even the stakes in a predatory patent infringement suit filed by an incumbent. The problem is that most startups don’t have access to a broad range of issued patents with which to countersue.

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PatentShield to the Rescue

Intertrust lived this situation with one of our venture portfolio companies a few years ago, and thought, “there has to be a way to help startups in this situation”, and we designed PatentShield. The PatentShield program provides start-ups with the access to a collection of large patent portfolios needed to counter a predatory patent infringement suit from an incumbent. The PatentShield program provides access to a large set of patents drawn from established companies and large research labs that we make available to member startups for use in litigation. If sued, a PatentShield startup can take ownership of patents from PatentShield and use them to countersue their opponent. Intertrust operates PatentShield as part of its venture group and offers it to startups in exchange for a small equity grant. Today, the patents in PatentShield are owned by Intertrust and Google, but some have been acquired from a variety of major companies.

Contributors

Intertrust
Google

In addition to defensive protection, the program also gives the member startups access to Intertrust’s world class IP strategy and R&D teams, who can consult with the member startups to help them develop their own IP and patent strategy and grow value.

To join PatentShield, a startup needs to meet certain selection criteria, to learn more about joining, please contact us here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I join PatentShield?

Startups wishing to join PatentShield meet with Intertrust’s venture selection committee. We will review your business plan and assess the joint opportunity. If you are selected, you will be asked to provide PatentShield with a small amount of equity – just like to a new investor and you’re in. At this point, PatentShield is not available for a monetary subscription and is only available for equity – if you are selected, we believe in you and want to grow with you. As part of PatentShield, you also get general advisory services on IP strategy and we will help you grow your business as part of our venture family.

If I get sued, do I get to choose the patents to use from the defensive portfolio?

Yes, your selection from the portfolio is under your control. We will provide assistance where possible to identify the best patents to fit your specific instance – however, the decision as to which patents you ultimately select lies with you.

Do I have control of the patents that I acquire through PatentShield?

Yes. As part of the assignment process, full rights of ownership in the patents is transferred to your company so that you may use them in the courts to defend against your attacker.

I do business internationally. Does PatentShield also contain patents that can be used in jurisdictions outside of the US?

Yes, the defensive portfolio contains patents in all of the world’s major patent geographies, including the US, Europe, Japan, China, as well as Canada and greater Asia-Pacific.

Does a member startup have to share any proceeds received from its defensive countersuit with Patent Shield?

No. Any settlements or net proceeds your company receives as a result of your defensive countersuit are yours to keep in their entirety. This is one of the intended benefits of being a member of PatentShield.

Can PatentShield be used by large established companies as well as startups?

PatentShield’s mission is to provide assistance to innovative, growth-oriented, small to medium companies. At the moment, and consistent with this focus, we do not offer an analogous program for large public companies.

Do I need to contribute my own patents to be part of the defensive portfolio if I join?

No. Your company’s patents are yours and will remain so. We do not ask that you contribute your patents to the PatentShield defensive portfolio for access by other member companies.

In order to participate, will I need to license other companies that are also members of PatentShield to patents that I own?

No. PatentShield is not a patent co-op or a patent licensing clearinghouse. As a PatentShield member you are under no obligation to cross-license your patents to other members.