IPS activities for AI: Patent applications from venture companies, status of AI-related application
- Sep 25, 2017
- 3 min read
In my long experience of doing R&D activities utilizing abundant financial resources in a large corporation, writing patents was to some extent part of the air, or Discipline.
When I was at a large company, I sometimes neglected (sweat) filing activities, and at other times I was very focused on filing. Now in the 2nd stage, I have found that it has become a natural part of my life.
It had become one of the drawers of my abilities.
Even though I had been told that there was nothing and had been narrowed down, I knew that there was a wealth of financial power at the base of a large company.
I was able to apply for and register a patent within a week, and I was also able to apply for foreign patents quite freely.
However, as I entered the second stage of my life
However, when I entered the second stage of my life and started working with venture companies and small and medium-sized companies on projects and consulting, I found that
However, as I entered the second stage of my life and started working with ventures and small and medium-sized companies on projects and consulting, I found out that most venture companies do not have much experience in writing patents.
On the other hand, there are some venture companies that have a solid IP strategy, and those venture companies that have even drawn patent maps and hold key patents have a strong presence in their industry. I believe that intellectual property strategy is the key to the future development of venture companies.
For this reason, when I think I have a new idea for a project with a client, I say, "Let's patent that! I say, "Let's patent that!
As a result, in the short time since I started my business, I have actually filed several patent applications and some of them have been registered.
Patent application activities are not easily established unless they are incorporated into daily R&D activities.
In addition, if you ask a patent attorney, it will cost you 300,000 yen per patent application and more than 100,000 yen to maintain it, so you need to calmly discuss with your CFO what percentage of your venture company's cash flow can be allocated to patent application activities.
This is the biggest difference between a venture company and a large corporation.
It is essential to have a strategy that integrates technology and finance, and to boldly apply for key patents with high priority.
On the other hand, what is the status of AI-related patent applications by large companies?
Here's one statistical result.
The following is a report by the Japan Patent Office on the status of global applications for AI-related patents in 2014.
According to this report, Japanese companies such as Sony, Fujitsu, NEC, and NTT have a strong presence in the world in terms of artificial intelligence-related patents, but other large companies have almost no presence.
It's been 26 years, which is two years ago now, so I think the situation is changing a bit, but
However, I am concerned about the fact that there are not many IoT-related patents (device-related artificial intelligence patents) from Japanese companies, which is Japan's forte.
On the contrary, I have noticed that many applications from Chinese universities have been submitted.
Unfortunately, I predicted that unless Japanese universities focus their efforts on patent application strategies or obtaining budgets for patent applications, they will be at a level where they will hardly be able to catch up in the next 5 to 10 years.
I think it is important for Japanese universities to have a strong patent application strategy.
If you have any questions about this blog, IP analysis, or how to plan and implement a centralized application strategy for AI IP, please feel free to contact me.
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The above text is written by Mr. Miyazaki.
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