Setting out a Patent Strategy

There are several business strategies for developing and managing a patent portfolio. Ranked in order from defensive to offensive, here are five different strategies:

Defensive publication
Defensive ammunition against infringement suits
Advertising and marketing uses for patents
Offensive protection of marketplace
Offensive development and licensing of a patent portfolio

In some cases, a company may use only one of these strategies, while in other cases, the strategies may be combined. In general, all of the strategies are complementary, and various shades of each may be used by a savvy businessperson over the course of business.