System and method for enabling an intellectual property transaction

Abstract

A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.

1 . A method comprising:
 analyzing, by an intellectual property (IP) transaction computer, an IP transaction workflow and at least one of an IP asset profile of an IP asset, an IP owner profile of an IP owner of the IP asset, and a buyer profile of a buyer of the IP asset;   creating, by the computer and based upon the analyzing, an IP buyer data permissions profile associated with the buyer and the IP asset, wherein the IP buyer data permissions profile is associated with multiple levels of data security; and   enabling, by the computer and based upon the permissions profile, the buyer to access IP asset data associated with the IP asset, wherein the IP asset is part of an IP asset database that includes IP for sale.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the computer, the IP asset that is associated with requested IP asset attributes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the computer and from the buyer, an inquiry comprising requested IP asset attributes. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying, by the computer and to the buyer, the IP asset that is associated with requested IP asset attributes. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising facilitating, by the computer, a transaction based upon the IP asset. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the computer, a purchase request from the buyer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving from the buyer, a due diligence (DD) request for additional data on the IP asset. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising notifying the IP owner of the DD request. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising receiving a DD approval from the IP owner and sending the additional data to the buyer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, from the buyer, at least one of a purchase request, a request to receive an assignment and a request for a license. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing the IP transaction workflow based upon at least one of a predefined process and business rules. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the business rules are at least one of defined by the buyer, defined by the IP owner and defined by an IP marketplace system associated with the IP asset database. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request for additional data from the buyer;   determining that the buyer is permitted to view the additional data; and   enabling the buyer to view the data on an interface.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the determining that the buyer is permitted to view is based upon at least one of the data permissions profile, a status of a negotiation between the buyer and the IP owner, an approval by the IP owner and an approval of a licensee of the IP asset. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request from the buyer for a custom valuation of the IP asset; and   performing the custom valuation of the IP asset, wherein the custom valuation is defined by the buyer.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining a match comprises determining a match based upon a proprietary algorithm. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of i) providing a referral of a service provider to at least one of the buyer and the seller and ii) identifying a meeting place for conducting negotiations for a pending transaction based upon the IP asset. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating a transaction task list for a pending transaction associated with the IP asset, wherein the transaction task list is based upon a standardized IP transaction workflow; and   tracking the status of a plurality of tasks, wherein the transaction task list comprises the plurality of tasks.   
     
     
         19 . An intellectual property (IP) transaction system, comprising:
 a network interface communicating with a memory;   the memory communicating with an IP transaction processor; and   the processor, when executing the computer program, performs operations comprising:
 analyzing, by the processor, an IP transaction workflow and at least one of an IP asset profile of an IP asset, an IP owner profile of an IP owner of the IP asset, and a buyer profile of a buyer of the IP asset; 
 creating, by the processor and based upon the analyzing, an IP buyer data permissions profile associated with the buyer and the IP asset, wherein the IP buyer data permissions profile is associated with multiple levels of data security; and 
 enabling, by the processor and based upon the permissions profile, the buyer to access IP asset data associated with the IP asset, wherein the IP asset is part of an IP asset database that includes IP for sale. 
   
     
     
         20 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by an Intellectual Property (IP) transaction computer, causes the computer perform operations comprising:
 analyzing, by the computer, an IP transaction workflow and at least one of an IP asset profile of an IP asset, an IP owner profile of an IP owner of the IP asset, and a buyer profile of a buyer of the IP asset;   creating, by the computer and based upon the analyzing, an IP buyer data permissions profile associated with the buyer and the IP asset, wherein the IP buyer data permissions profile is associated with multiple levels of data security; and   enabling, by the computer and based upon the permissions profile, the buyer to access IP asset data associated with the IP asset, wherein the IP asset is part of an IP asset database that includes IP for sale.