A powerful technology position in the marketplace can go hand in hand with an aggressive licensing strategy. While being first to market is critical, the IP foothold must be secured for the long term. They reasoned that Fuji would turn to the US market next. Kodak had been preparing a good patent base and rushed their product to the US market first with a giant media splash and became dominant. Fuji who had a poor patent protection in this area later had to beat back 28 companies copying their single-use camera.
Studies indicate that companies forming strategic alliances perform better than average.
However managers of a small company negotiating a deal with a corporate giant may be at a disadvantage unless they can find weaknesses in the giant's IP armor. Then they can file patents around the big firm's core technology in order to pave the road for equitable joint venture or cross licensing agreements. He must know when to fold, when to hold, and when to bet the farm on a lawsuit. SFU is unique in that faculty members own their IP outright. Active Pass is a privately held Vancouver biotechnology company in the business of developing new treatments for Alzheimer's disease.