Resources are limited, and getting the most value out of patent protection means using a patent budget efficiently. One way to achieve this is by employing the 80/20 rule—80% of revenue may be generated by only 20% of products/services—to analyze whether resources are targeting the most commercially valuable assets.
This method uncovers inefficiencies in pursuing or maintaining intellectual property associated with less-profitable products/services.
Reviewing protection in this way also helps identify problem areas, such as the need for additional protection if competitors are not adequately blocked from a company’s primary revenue lines. And trends may show that competitors are increasing filings in specific technology areas or geographies, which could pose problems in the future if not addressed. Reviewing the business strategy of patents apart from technology strategy helps deploy the patent budget most effectively.
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