System and method for managing intellectual property

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and systems for intellectual property management. In an embodiment, a system includes an intellectual property asset inventory system to manage an inventory of intellectual property assets. A product inventory system manages an inventory of products, where the inventory of products corresponds to a plurality of products and one or more of the products of the plurality of products are associated with one or more of the intellectual property assets of the plurality of intellectual property assets. A marketing management system manages a plurality of marketing projects, where one or more of the marketing projects of the plurality of marketing projects are associated with at least one of (i) one or more products of the plurality of products, and (ii) one or more intellectual property assets of the plurality of intellectual property assets.

1 . A method for use with a computer for managing marketing of a plurality of intellectual property rights assets, the method comprising:
 receiving intellectual property rights asset protection data, wherein the intellectual property rights asset protection data includes protection data corresponding to a plurality of intellectual property rights assets, wherein each intellectual property rights asset is defined and maintained as an asset by the existence of legally-enforceable intellectual property protection rights pertaining to that intellectual property rights asset;   determining a market value for at least one intellectual property rights asset; and   generating a marketing project plan for the at least one intellectual property rights asset based on both a template plan and on the determined market value.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the intellectual property rights asset protection data in an intellectual property rights asset protection database including a plurality of intellectual property rights asset protection data records, wherein at least one intellectual property rights asset protection data record corresponds to the at least one intellectual property rights asset. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the marketing project plan includes a schedule of marketing tasks, and wherein determining the market value includes determining the market value based on information in an intellectual property market value database. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising comparing the market value for the at least one intellectual property rights asset to a market value for another intellectual property asset. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising comparing the market value for the at least one intellectual property rights asset to a market value for another intellectual property asset, wherein the market value of the another intellectual property rights asset is obtained from at least one of a website, an electronic publication, or a database. 
     
     
         6 . A computer program stored on a computer-readable storage medium for use with a computer for managing marketing of a plurality of intellectual property rights assets, the computer program comprising:
 logic receiving intellectual property rights asset protection data, wherein the intellectual property rights asset protection data includes protection data corresponding to a plurality of intellectual property rights assets, wherein each intellectual property rights asset is defined and maintained as an asset by the existence of legally-enforceable intellectual property protection rights pertaining to that intellectual property rights asset;   logic determining a market value for at least one intellectual property rights asset; and   logic generating a marketing project plan for the at least one intellectual property rights asset based on both a template plan and on the determined market value.   
     
     
         7 . The computer program of  claim 6 , further comprising logic storing the intellectual property rights asset protection data in an intellectual property rights asset protection database including a plurality of intellectual property rights asset protection data records, wherein at least one intellectual property rights asset protection data record corresponds to the at least one intellectual property rights asset. 
     
     
         8 . The computer program of  claim 6 , wherein the marketing project plan includes a schedule of marketing tasks, and wherein determining the market value includes determining the market value based on information in an intellectual property market value database. 
     
     
         9 . The computer program of  claim 6 , further comprising logic comparing the market value for the at least one intellectual property rights asset to a market value for another intellectual property asset. 
     
     
         10 . The computer program of  claim 6 , further comprising logic comparing the market value for the at least one intellectual property rights asset to a market value for another intellectual property asset, wherein the market value of the another intellectual property rights asset is obtained from at least one of a website, an electronic publication, or a database. 
     
     
         11 . A system for managing marketing of a plurality of intellectual property rights assets, the system comprising:
 logic receiving intellectual property rights asset protection data, wherein the intellectual property rights asset protection data includes protection data corresponding to a plurality of intellectual property rights assets, wherein each intellectual property rights asset is defined and maintained as an asset by the existence of legally-enforceable intellectual property protection rights pertaining to that intellectual property rights asset;   logic determining a market value for at least one intellectual property rights asset; and   logic generating a marketing project plan for the at least one intellectual property rights asset based on both a template plan and on the determined market value.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising logic storing the intellectual property rights asset protection data in an intellectual property rights asset protection database including a plurality of intellectual property rights asset protection data records, wherein at least one intellectual property rights asset protection data record corresponds to the at least one intellectual property rights asset. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the marketing project plan includes a schedule of marketing tasks, and wherein determining the market value includes determining the market value based on information in an intellectual property market value database. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising logic comparing the market value for the at least one intellectual property rights asset to a market value for another intellectual property asset. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising logic comparing the market value for the at least one intellectual property rights asset to a market value for another intellectual property asset, wherein the market value of the another intellectual property rights asset is obtained from at least one of a website, an electronic publication, or a database.