Twenty years may define the legal life of a patent, but does it reflect its strategic value?
In this article, we explore the concept of Patent Strategic Half-Life™ and why leading organizations are shifting their focus from portfolio size to portfolio relevance. Through examples taken by leading Fortune 500 companies, we examine how organizations can ensure their IP investments remain aligned with future technologies, business priorities, and market opportunities in a reality where AI continues to accelerate R&D and innovation cycles.
In the article, Kaur discusses:
- Why a patent’s legal life and strategic value are increasingly diverging
- The risks of maintaining portfolios that no longer align with business and technology priorities
- How leading companies are using portfolio evolution and strategic pruning to stay competitive
- Why strategic relevance is emerging as a more meaningful measure of portfolio strength than patent volume
For IP executives, patent counsel, innovation leaders, and R&D decision-makers, this article provides a timely perspective on how organizations can rethink portfolio strategy in an era where technology evolves faster than patents age.