The classic “Make vs. Buy” decision-choosing between developing what you need on your own, or obtaining it elsewhere—applies to technology and intellectual property just as to any other kind of asset. Sometimes companies obtain a component outright, through product purchase. Sometimes they purchase the technology (through an assignment), and sometimes they buy the company that developed the technology (through merger or acquisition). A license—that is, permission to use something owned by someone else—is often the cost-effective way to acquire needed technology and assets.
We guide clients through the “make vs. buy” decision. We help them to develop a strategy based on their business goals, and then we help to implement that strategy. We assist teams in planning terms for a license, draft agreements, negotiate terms, and then support them in following through with contractual obligations.
Another classic business decision is choosing how to commercialize a company’s output. One option is licensing your intellectual property, to support a product or service offering or to provide others with a technology for use separate from the company’s offerings. We also assist clients to monetize their intellectual property assets through both kinds of licensing.
- We help clients develop licensing strategies to fit their business goals and licenses that contain terms that are consistent with business goals but are likely to be acceptable to potential licensees.
- We standardize and streamline the licensing process. We create systems with standard agreements, pre-approved alternative language for selected provisions, approval processes, procedures, guidelines, and checklists. We also create and conduct the training, either personally or through “Train the Trainer” programs.