Abstract:
A subscription social networking platform for the purchase and sale of IP assets between two subscribers includes an e-commerce platform, content analysis engine and database for storing vendible IP assets loaded by the subscribers. The content analysis engine determines the category of IP asset being loaded into the database. Any subsequent dialogue between any two subscribers about a particular category of IP asset will cause a search engine to search the database for relevant IP assets in that category for placement on a negotiation list. The two subscribers can thereafter negotiate the sale and purchase of the IP asset in a secure manner.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is entitled to the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/083,142 filed on Jul. 23, 2008. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to business practices and more particularly to electronic negotiations and specifically to a social networking platform for intellectual property assets. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to the fields of internet based methods and systems for the trading of intangible knowledge based properties and in particular intellectual property assets. For the purposes of this patent application intellectual property assets includes any form of intellectual property including without limitation patents, trademarks, copyrights and industrial designs. 
         [0004]    It is known in the art to provide databases of intellectual property assets and allow for the exchange of intellectual property assets through a global network. It is also known to provide social networking services for persons who share similar interests and characteristics and for managing the information of such persons. 
         [0005]    A group of persons comprising those who own or who have an interest in intellectual property assets are well suited for social networking. However, a main limitation of present systems is the lack of a mechanism to bring potentially interested parties together on such an intellectual property social network and motivate them to participate therein. Accordingly, the present invention provides for a collaborative internet based environment for the identification, discussion and evaluation of intellectual property assets pertinent to a community of interested parties. The present invention further provides for the creation of an on-line market for the exchange of intellectual assets in which a variety of interested stakeholders including buyers, sellers, agents and service holders are able and financially motivated to participate. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Embodiments of the present invention comprise a social networking platform for IP assets comprising: a market comprising vendors and purchasers of the IP assets and e-commerce means linking vendors with purchasers whereby the vendors upload proprietary IP assets for sale to the platform on a subscription basis. The vendors and purchasers are grouped into interest clusters related to their particular IP interests. There is also provided a categorization engine for categorizing the IP assets into a plurality of searchable categories. Collaboration software permits communication to and between the interest clusters of the presence of IP assets of potential interest that are for sale. The purchasers and vendors access the platform on a subscription basis. There is also included a search engine adapted to identify additional sources of vendible IP assets for interest clusters. Communications means is provided between interest clusters in order that they may discuss the sale of IP assets of interest for a pre-determined and limited period of time. There is a negotiation list upon which IP assets of interest are placed so that vendors and purchasers of the IP assets of interest may negotiate a commercial transaction for a limited period of time. This time can be increased for a fee paid by one or both of the negotiating parties. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of the platform and its relationship to holders of IP assets. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of the platform notifying Clustered Interests of relevant IP assets. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of the platform conducting a search for IP assets of third party databases. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of how the platform identifies IP assets of interest during a dialogue. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of a specific IP asset placed on the negotiation list 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of the platform searching external databases for a specific IP asset. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of how the platform conducts negotiation with non-subscribers. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of how the platform rates the commercial viability of IP assets. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a diagram of how the platform integrates a third party broker and reward platform. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , and according to the present invention  10  which is a social, networking platform comprising a market comprising buyers and sellers of intellectual property assets, e-commerce means for the purchase and sale for intellectual property assets, holders of intellectual property assets acting as buyers  12  and sellers  14 , a website  16  for remotely  17  uploading into the invention platform database  18  any number of intellectual property assets  20  and  21  in which rights are available for acquisition by way sale, license or otherwise (“Subscriber IP”). 
         [0017]    The invention further comprises a content analysis engine  24  for content categorization into categories of interest. After uploading, the Subscriber IP is then subject to a content analysis engine  24  and categorized  26  in accordance with their subject matter,  30 , which is illustrated as four categories A to D. However, these can represents one of categories of patents, trade-marks, copyright or licensable assets. 
         [0018]    The invention further comprises messaging means in the form of collaboration software ( FIG. 4  Item  50 ) so that die purchaser and seller may communicate and negotiate through the platform the purchase and sale of a particular IP asset in confidence. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the platform  10  is able to perform a content analysis by way of engine  24  in respect of a given intellectual property asset and generate one or more categorization suggestions (A to D) that will position the asset in one or more categories (A to D)  30  that the platform has identified to be of interest to specific communities. An on-line community of persons who have an interest in one or more categories to which an intellectual property asset relates is herein referred to as a clustered interest  32 . 
         [0020]    As intellectual property assets are uploaded to database  18  the platform automatically notifies  34  subscribers  32 , based on the clustered interest to which they belong and the nature of the assets, that new assets in specified areas of interest have been added. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , and in addition to passively receiving intellectual property assets from holders of intellectual assets, the platform  10  automatically searches  40  by way of a search engine  57  and harvests intellectual property sources  42  external to the platform  10  based on clustered interests of its users. The harvested IP is content analyzed  24  and categorized  26  according to subject matter  30  of interest by categories. The platform notifies  40  such holders of intellectual property assets  32 , makes them aware of a clustered interest and provides an opportunity for them to list their intellectual property assets. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the platform  10  comprises collaboration software  50  which allows similarly interested persons  12  and  14  who are also subscribers to the platform  10  to engage in dialogue  52  pertaining to subject matter of interest to them, in this example IP category A. Users can form clustered interests of their own creation to explore, evaluate and discuss the intellectual property assets in existence or that are required in a given field. These discussions can take place through one or more means including through a forum interface, wiki or blog, email, instant messaging/online chat, voice or videoconferencing means. Preferably, the collaboration aspects of the platform are open to all users of the internet on a subscription or non-subscription basis. However, the platform permits parties to designate their conversation as being public, restricted to a group of users, or private. 
         [0023]    Based on the content analysis  24  of each discussion the search engine  57  continuously searches for intellectual property assets contained in its database  18  that are pertinent to the discussion. For example, if the discussion is about category “A”  56  of intellectual property then the platform will search the database  18  for IP assets in that category. Preferably, the intellectual property assets identified by the content analysis as being relevant to a discussion can be presented in the form of drop down lists that are made available  58  to the participants. As the discussion progresses the platform continues to refine its search and to generate lists on an ongoing basis. The platform allows one or more of the participants to identify an item of Subscriber IP as being of interest for the purpose of commercial discussions. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , and in the case of Subscriber IP stored on database  18 , once an intellectual property asset A1  60  is identified by the participants as being of interest, the A1 asset holder  62  is notified. Participants can permit the conversation to be exposed to the holder to start a commercialization discussion or to contact the holder themselves in a separate conversation. 
         [0025]    Once an item A1 of Subscriber IP is identified on the platform as being of interest for the purpose of a commercial negotiation, the platform places the item on a negotiation list  64  which records the parties involved in the negotiation. Preferably, the contents of the negotiation list are internal to the platform and not made available to the public. However, it may be particularly advantageous for the platform to make public the level of interest pertaining to a given item of Subscriber IP at a given time. 
         [0026]    The platform can allow a given item of Subscriber IP to appear on the negotiation list more than once at a given time. Alternatively, in a preferred embodiment an interested party can purchase a time limited exclusivity period for negotiation on payment of a fee. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , and in addition to accessing Subscriber IP stored in database  18 , participants  70  and  72  belonging to cluster interest B may request the platform  10  to search for intellectual property assets listed in third party databases  76 . For example, if the discussion is about IP category “B” then the content analysis software will identify the topic “B”  78  of interest and the platform will conduct a search of external third party databases for similar assets  80 . 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the platform is able to identify for the participants intellectual property assets  82  belonging to parties who have not yet listed their assets in its database (“Non-Subscriber IP”). Preferably, where the platform is asked to expose participants to Non-Subscriber IP which may be of interest to a discussion, it will contact the holder  84  of that IP asset directly and invite the holder to join the discussion. Also, prior to linking a holder of Non-Subscriber IP to a discussion, both the participants and the holder must agree to abide by the terms and conditions  86  of the platform in relation to any commercial negotiation. This may include that it be mandatory that the item of Non-Subscriber IP be automatically placed on the platform&#39;s negotiation list and remain there for a specified time limit  90  and for exclusive negotiations between the parties  92 . 
         [0029]    In a preferred embodiment, the participants to any commercial negotiation initiated by the platform must agree that intellectual property asset in question shall remain on the negotiation list pending consummation of transaction by the participants. 
         [0030]    Further, preferably only the platform operator can remove an intellectual property asset from the negotiation list. The platform accepts request for the removal of an asset from the negotiation list, if for example one or both participants specify that they wish to terminate the negotiation. In this event, before removal of the asset from the negotiation list the platform may require that any future transaction between the parties be conditional on payment of all monies due to the platform operator under its listing agreement with the IP holder. Preferably, the platform automatically and periodically searches public records, including, for example, press releases, and assignment databases to verify compliance with the rules and conditions of the platform. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , and in a preferred embodiment the platform participants  12  and  14  are able to rate  90  individual assets based on generic score carding methodologies  92  made available through the platform  10 . Alternatively, specific clustered interests can elect to integrate into the platform their own score carding methodologies uniquely designed for their own needs. Further, where parties require third party assistance in the valuation of intellectual property assets from for example, professional valuators, lawyers or accountants the platform can allow them to invite this assistance into the discussion. In the case of legal professionals this assistance can also include providing on-line framework for contracts with electronic signature capacity as part of the discussion. Preferably, the IP holder may elect to have the rating of its intellectual property assets and conversations relating thereto made public or subject to pre-defined disclosure restrictions. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the present invention also comprises a reward platform  100  for commercial discussion and topic generation participation by third parties brokers  102  who agree to work within the platform in linking buyers  104  and sellers  106  whether they be subscribes or non-subscribers. Non-subscribers must execute an agreement  110  to be bound by the terms of the platform  10 . The interested brokers may include, for example, affiliates, aggregators, agents or patent attorneys. To participate such brokers can be invited to sign up to a rewards platform established by the IP holder, subject to such acceptance criteria as the IP holder may define. The reward platform includes relevancy score carding  108  and  109  and referral matching technique for arms length IP listings belonging to an IP holder. The IP holder can control broker commissions and exclusivity. For example, an IP holder can link the level of the reward  112  to the success of a given brokers based on the relevancy of opportunities they bring or whether a transaction is successfully consummated. 
         [0033]    Further, the platform of the present invention allows brokers to sort by reward platform to compare both fixed and variable awards and create personal portfolios to expose and solicit to their communities of interest. The platform enables brokers to trade their personal portfolios of IP assets in which they have some form of exclusivity. In addition, annuity firms and firms with large portfolios are able to participate in the market established through the platform of the present invention by providing bid and joint ownership options for the assumption of renewal fees and even further filings. 
         [0034]    Although the description above contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.