Patent pool

In intellectual property (IP) law, a patent pool is a consortium of at least two companies agreeing to cross-license patents and other IP rights relating to a particular technology. The creation of a patent pool can save patentees and licensees time and money. Competition law issues are usually important when a large consortium is formed. Patent pooling has recently become a hotly debated field.

Related Topics:
Intellectual property (IP) law - Consortium - Companies - Cross-license - Patent - Technology - Competition law

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For instance, in August 2005, a patent pool was formed by about 20 companies active in the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) domain http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/1798/1/1/http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8390642236.html.

Related Topics:
August 2005 - Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

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One of the first patent pools was formed in 1856, by manufacturers Grover, Baker, Singer, Wheeler, and Wilson, all accusing the others of patent infringement. They met in Albany, New York to pursue their suits. Orlando B. Potter, a lawyer and president of the Grover and Baker Company, proposed that, rather than sue their profits out of existence, they pool their patents (See also: Isaac Singer/I. M. Singer & Co).

Related Topics:
1856 - Singer - Patent infringement - Albany, New York - Isaac Singer/I. M. Singer & Co

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