知识产权助力企业各个时刻

通过从知识产权中创造价值而获利

当前阶段
了解在企业生命周期的价值创造阶段，你资产的价值以及如何从知识产权中创造收益。

重要结论

  • 当业务出现变化时，重新审视知识产权战略，以确保仍能为你的商业目标提供支持。

  • 在打造知识产权组合时，考虑潜在的变革。商业模式的转变可能提升或削弱知识产权价值。

  • 随着业务发生变化，考虑是否能够创造新的知识产权以提供竞争优势或提升价值。

  • 定期审查知识产权资产。停止为不再对你或他人有价值的资产支付费用。

  • 你的知识产权可能对其他人有价值，并且可作为收入来源。考虑是否能够予以出售或许可。

  • 如果有人声称你未经许可使用其知识产权，请严肃对待。分析该主张并寻求法律帮助以确定后续步骤。

了解你知识产权的价值

知识产权可服务于双重目标：一方面帮助企业保护无形资产；另一方面，通过将获得的保护变现，知识产权还可以为企业创造收益。
为了解企业的价值，请确保考虑以下方面：
  • 你拥有哪些知识产权，并如何加以保护？
  • 你的知识产权是否保护了你的竞争优势？
  • 你的竞争对手是否有相似的知识产权？
  • 你的知识产权是否对企业之外的其他人有价值？
  • 你的知识产权是否足够有力，以防止竞争对手开展类似的活动？
知识产权的价值取决于你的商业环境。

Understanding the value of your IP

IP can serve a twofold objective: on one hand it helps your business protect its intangible assets. On the other, IP can also serve your business to generate revenue, by monetizing the protection you obtained.

In order to understand the value of your business, make sure you cover the following considerations:

  • What IP do you own and how is it protected?

  • Does your IP protect your competitive advantage?

  • Do your competitors have similar IP?

  • Does your IP have value to others outside your business?

  • Is your IP strong enough to prevent competitors from doing something similar?

The value of your IP depends on your business context.

从你的知识产权中创造收益

如欲将你的知识产权变现并产生收入和盈利，你可以允许他人使用你的知识产权，作为交换获得一些惠益，如金钱、对技术的获取、销售和分销渠道等。
从知识产权中创造收益的三个典型方式如下：
a.许可知识产权
在许可你的知识产权时，保留对该资产的所有权，并授予他人使用权利的许可，作为交换获得报酬（例如一次性付款、基于销售额的使用费，或两者兼有）。这一许可可按市场和/或目的加以限制。
如果涉及技术，你可能需要转让一些技术诀窍以确保交易成功。例如，可以附加一定数量的咨询小时数，作为基础许可之外的额外报酬。
b.出售你的知识产权
在出售知识产权时，你放弃对该资产的控制，或者在一些情况下，可能能够收回部分权利。在做出决定之前，考虑该知识产权是否在你的企业中以任何方式使用，并且需要保留部分权利。
如果涉及技术，你可能需要转让一些技术诀窍以确保交易成功。
c.特许经营你的业务
在特许经营你的业务时，你允许第三方在既定时段内使用你的商业模式和知识产权，以换取初始和持续费用的支付。在此情况下，你通过特许经营保留对商业运营和管理方式的控制。
一般而言，许可知识产权或特许经营业务可带来多个益处：
  • 创造新的收入来源。
  • 在向新市场扩张时降低成本。
  • 为你的技术获得新行业应用的机会。
  • 提供分担风险的机会。
  • 通过将竞争对手转化为合作伙伴解决争议。

Generating revenue from your IP

To monetize your IP and generate revenue and profit, you can let others use your IP in exchange for some benefit, for example money, access to technology, sales and distribution chains, etc.

The three classical ways to generate revenue from your IP are the following:

a. License your IP

When licensing your IP, you keep ownership of the asset and grant the right of using this right in exchange for a compensation (e.g. a lump sum, a royalty based on sales, or a combination of both). The license can be limited by market and/or purpose.

If related to technology, you may need to transfer some know-how to make the deal successful. For example you can add a number of consulting hours which will be compensated in addition to the base license.

Remember your reputation: consider licensees carefully and include terms to keep your brand intact.

b. Sell your IP

When you sell your IP you give up control of the asset or, in some cases, you may be able to get some rights back. Before taking a decision, consider if you use the IP in any way in your business and need to maintain some rights.

If related to technology, you may need to transfer some know-how to make the deal successful.

c. Franchise your business

When franchising your business, you let third parties use your business model and IP for a defined period of time in exchange for payment of initial and ongoing fees. In this case you keep control of the way the business is run and managed by the franchisee.

In general, licensing your IP or franchising your business brings a number of benefits:

  • Creates new revenue streams

  • Reduces costs when expanding into new markets

  • Provides access to new industry applications for your technology

  • Provides an opportunity to share risk

  • Resolves disputes by converting competitors into partners.

知识产权许可协议中应包含什么

在许可知识产权之前，你需要在协议中考虑多个条件。许可协议通常包含以下部分：

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你许可什么知识产权

你可以包括单项知识产权、列表或对被许可知识产权资产的说明。

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可以如何使用你的知识产权

选择知识产权的哪些权利、在哪些领域和市场中能够使用。

  • 领域：知识产权仅可在特定产品或技术领域使用。

  • 市场：知识产权可全球或仅限特定国家使用。

  • 期限：知识产权能够使用多长时间（例如有期限和/或可续期）

  • 权利：知识产权仅可用于特定权利（例如销售、制造、分许可等）

payments

你从知识产权许可中能获得什么

作为授权知识产权的交换，你可以要求不同类型的报酬：

  • 一次性付费：可作为准入费用，对被许可人进行更多筛选。

  • 使用费：可以是销售额或利润的百分比。

  • 其他利益：从获取分销渠道到制造不等。

  • 以上兼有。

security

保护公司免遭知识产权滥用

为确保企业得到保护，你可以纳入若干条件，例如：

  • 审计权

  • 质量准则

  • 解决争议的方式

  • 限制对企业造成损害的方法。

What to include in an IP licensing agreement

Before licensing your IP, there are a number of conditions you need to consider in the agreement. A license agreement typically comprises of the following sections:

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What IP are you licensing

You can include one individual IP, a list, or a description of the IP assets being licensed.

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How your IP can be used

Choose which rights, in what area and in what markets the IP can be used.

  • Field: the IP can be used only in certain products or technical area.

  • Market: the IP can be used globally or in particular countries only.

  • Duration: for how long can the IP be used (e.g. limited and/or renewable)

  • Rights: the IP can be used for specific rights only (e.g. sell, manufacture, sublicense, etc.)

payments

What you get in return from IP licensing

In exchange for the IP rights granted, you can request different types of compensation:

  • Lump sum: could be an entry fee to be more selective with licensees.

  • Royalties: could be percentage of sales or profits.

  • Other benefits: from access to distribution to manufacturing, or other.

  • Combination of these.

security

Protecting your company from misuse of your IP

In order to ensure your business is protected you can include a number of conditions, such as:

  • Audit rights

  • Quality guidelines

  • A way to resolve disputes

  • Ways to limit damage to your business.

独占许可或非独占许可

在许可你的知识产权之前，请记住有两种重要的许可类型：

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独占或唯一使用知识产权许可

知识产权可由单一被许可方使用。知识产权所有人可能保留部分权利。

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非独占知识产权许可

知识产权所有人可授予多个知识产权许可。

独占权可针对整个知识产权组合、市场或领域。

如果你在考虑独占或唯一使用许可，请记住以下考量因素：
  • 确定哪种许可形式对你而言最有利可图。
  • 纳入激励另一方最大限度利用知识产权的条款（例如最低付款或如果未充分使用则失去独占权）。
  • 保留你继续经营自己的业务可能需要的权利。
  • 不要授予超出必要的权利（例如限制领域、市场、期限或仅授予对方感兴趣的权利，为其他许可保留选择空间）。

Exclusive or non-exclusive license

Before licensing your IP, remember there are two key types of licenses:

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Exclusive or sole IP license

IP can be used by a single licensed party. The IP owner may retain some rights.

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Non-exclusive IP license

IP owner can grant multiple IP licenses.

Exclusivity can be for an entire IP portfolio, markets or field.

In case you are considering an exclusive or sole license, remember the following considerations:

  • Determine which license style is most lucrative for you

  • Include terms that incentivize the other party to maximize the use of your IP (e.g. minimum payments or a loss of exclusivity if not used enough)

  • Retain rights you might need to continue to operate your business

  • Don’t give away more than you have to (e.g. restrict the field, markets, length of time, or rights to what’s interesting for the other party and keep options open for other licenses)

利用你的知识产权获取融资

你或许能够利用知识产权资产获取融资。
贷款人和投资者会想要了解你的知识产权和市场环境。这一过程需要时间。如果你的知识产权有明确的市场或与更广泛的交易相关联，可能更容易找到贷款人或投资者。
基于知识产权的贷款可能是稀释股权融资选项的替代方案。
a.应利用哪些知识产权资产？
一般而言，你拥有的、对你的业务很重要或已产生稳定收入的注册知识产权。
b.我的知识产权价值如何？
在决定融资条款前，确定知识产权的价值。
你可能需要与专家合作，并提供企业如何使用该知识产权的详细信息（这可能涉及一些前期成本）。
贷款人考虑的价值是如果你无法偿还贷款，他们能够收回的。这一价值可能低于该知识产权在你当前业务中的实际价值。
贷款数额通常会低于确定的总价值。
c.接下来会发生什么？
贷款人可能对你的知识产权设定担保权益，若你违约，他们将获得该知识产权的权利。
通常，你可以继续在业务中使用该知识产权。特定使用可能需要许可。

阅读更多关于将知识产权作为融资来源的信息。

Using your IP to access finance

You may be able to get access to finance using your IP assets.

Lenders and investors will want to understand your IP and the market context. This process takes time. If there is a clear market for your IP or it is linked to a broader transaction, it may be easier to find lenders or investors.

IP-based lending may be an alternative to funding options that dilute your equity.

a. Which IP assets should you leverage?

Usually registered IP that you own and is important to your business or has established revenue streams.

b. What is the value of my IP?

Before deciding on the financing terms, determine the value of the IP.

You may need to work with a specialist and provide details about how your business uses the IP (this may include some upfront costs to you).

The value the lender considers is what it could recover if you don’t pay back the loan. This value will probably be less than the value the IP has within your business today.

A loan will probably be for less than the total value determined.

c. What happens next?

The lender may take a security interest in your IP, giving them rights to it if you default.

Usually, you can continue to use the IP in your business. Certain uses may require permission.

Read more about using your IP as a source of finance.