Chapter 1899 Patent Market Operation

"Have your own authorization?" Zhou Buqi asked, "How do you say that?"

"It's a patent company's operating model."

Then, Zhou Shaoning gave a brief explanation of the patent operation model in the United States.

There are mainly two types.

One is the self-authorization model.

This company is represented by RPX Company. This company has purchased a large number of patents from outside but does not authorize them. Anyone who wants to use their patents needs to apply to become a member of RPX Company.

In fact, it is a membership system.

After paying to become a member of RPX Company, you can use all the patents of RPX Company. Their patents are only authorized to their own members, and non-member users cannot even pay.

The most powerful department of this company is the legal team, which is looking for trouble all over the world and constantly launching lawsuits every day.

The other is the full authorization mode.

Companies like InterDigital, for example, continue to purchase various patents in the market at high prices. After purchasing the patents, they start selling them to external parties.

All patents are clearly priced.

In fact, it is a subscription system.

There are no membership restrictions, as long as you pay money and subscribe, all merchants can use it.

Similarly, there must be a super powerful legal department. Once you find out that someone has not subscribed and secretly used your own patent behind your back, then wait for a lawsuit!

With the rapid development of the domestic technology industry in recent years, more and more patent lawsuits have been filed. These companies are not like Microsoft, Apple, and Google.

If you infringe on Microsoft's patents, the super giant will often turn a blind eye.

If there was time to litigate, the money would have been earned long ago.

Even if you win the lawsuit, the patent fees may not be able to cover the attorney fees.

Moreover, in order to develop the domestic market, these foreign companies have to form good relationships and do not dare to be too serious about patents and copyrights. They adopt an attitude of compromise.

However, these patent companies are different.

The main business of this kind of company is patent business!

They do not engage in research and development, but buy many patents from the market, and then start selling them externally. For this kind of company, intellectual property is their most important core asset.

When it comes to patent infringement, it is impossible to give in. We have to pursue them all the way, nagging them, even going to the WTO. If one manufacturer succeeds in infringing, subsequent manufacturers will follow a series of infringements, and they must be killed to serve as a warning to others.

This type of company has a general term in China - patent troll.

Zhou Buqi said half-jokingly: "The business market in the United States is really developed, and even patents can create so many models. Acquire patents, and then sell them externally, membership and subscription systems... I think we can create an online business

A patented website, just like Netflix, operates a patented streaming media platform! You can buy memberships, individual subscriptions, online payments, and Internet to B business."

Zhou Shaoning took it seriously and was shocked, "The B-side business can't handle streaming media, right?"

"Just saying that casually." Zhou Buqi waved his hand, "The market environment in Europe and the United States is really the best breeding ground for this kind of patent troll."

Zhou Shaoning said: "Calling them patent trolls is actually a bit irresponsible. The existence of these patent companies will allow the technology industry to develop faster."

"Yeah?"

"Yes, many companies have developed some patents but refuse to license them to external parties. Once this is a patent that cannot be circumvented by a certain industry, it may cause the technological development of this industry to stagnate. These patent companies have a strong network of relationships

, we can negotiate with some departments, and the government and businessmen can work together to put pressure on patent holders, buy the patents at a high price, and then license them widely to external parties. The price may be a little higher, but at least there is supply."

Zhou Buqi said: "If it is operated by a professional company, the efficiency will be higher."

"Yes." Zhou Shaoning nodded, "Unifying the patent operations will also have greater channel advantages. The risk of technology research and development is too great. Many small companies have worked hard to develop a patent and want to license it to someone.

The manufacturers that need it, but lack industry channels, can only rot in their hands. At this time, this kind of patent operating company can come forward."

After what he said, Zhou Buqi felt that he had some new understanding of this industry.

That's really what happened.

There is an insurmountable threshold between technology and the market.

The traditional way of thinking is to comprehensively evaluate technological achievements through coordination among enterprises, technology on the left, and market on the right, thereby transforming technological achievements into commodities in the market.

The most typical one is the iPhone.

When the first-generation iPhone was unveiled, it blinded the whole world. It was like a technological explosion. It was so shocking. In fact, this phone had no technological innovation at all and was all old technology.

It's just that before Steve Jobs existed, no matter how good the technology was, it would be left to gather dust in a research institute.

However, there are not many people in this category.

As long as he appears, there is a high probability that he will be a famous figure in the world.

More often than not, it is the wishful thinking of scientists. University professors, researchers or entrepreneurs from small companies have worked hard to come up with a good set of technologies, but they have no use at all.

If the research and development is successful, how can we promote the technology?

At this time, the role of patent companies comes into play.

For example, the membership-based RPX company has dozens of members around the world, including HTC, Samsung, Sony, ZTE, Huawei, Asda, Microsoft, and Google.

Suppose there is a small company that develops a new audio-visual patent based on mobile phones, but this small company lacks channels in the market. It holds the treasure in its arms, but cannot realize it.

"Patent trolls" like RPX can go down to earth like an angel to save them. They buy patents from small companies at high prices, and then contact their members to tell them that they have recently collected a new audio-visual patent.

You can try it if you need it.

With so many mobile phone manufacturers, there will always be a few who will try out new technologies, and they will even become the main new technologies and functions of new models, and the market will open up.

All parties benefit.

Technological developments in the industry have also made progress.

The U.S.'s ability to lead the world in technological innovation is largely due to the marketing promotion of such "patent trolls".

Big companies like Microsoft and Apple all have their main core businesses. They don't pay much attention to patent licensing. If they have any technological innovations, they won't promote it to the world. If the technology industry has

If we do this, new technologies will not be popularized quickly and widely, and technological development will not be so fast.

Technology research and development is a narrow escape, and the next step of technology promotion is another narrow escape. Whoever can control the market can control thunder and lightning in the technology industry.

Zhou Buqi said thoughtfully: "There is no similar institution in China, right?"

"No." Zhou Shaoning came from a technical background, and he knew it all too well. "The core of patent operations lies in litigation. There have been several so-called patent operation companies in China, and they are all a bit... how should I put it, suspected of extortion. These foreign ones

Patent operating companies are called patent trolls in our industry, and the development of the technology market is far from reaching that stage. There is no officially supported agency in China that can stand up and use litigation to operate patents."

Zhou Buqi felt a headache and was helpless, "The technology industry is a system. To hear you say this, there are no basic rules and regulations for the technology system in China. If you sue someone for infringement, will they be countersued for blackmail? This is simply wrong."

A fatal blow to the confidence and motivation of scientific and technological R&D workers.”

Zhou Shaoning said: "Yes, I once talked with someone...it seemed to be someone from telecommunications. The patent operation industry has not developed at all in China, and it is useless to call for it. Many patents are in universities, research institutes, and state-owned enterprises.

and public institutions. Buy patents from them and then operate them in a market-oriented manner. The obstacles here are too great."

Zhou Buqi nodded, "Yes, these patents are state-owned assets, and market operation is very troublesome."

As economic growth slows down, the protection of state-owned assets becomes increasingly strict.

In recent years, due to the impact of the subprime mortgage crisis and the recent raging European debt crisis, companies that have had management buyouts such as Lenovo, Haier, and TCL have become the focus of public opinion again.

Changhong Group, a dying old state-owned enterprise, has been trying to transform itself into a private enterprise through management buyouts and comprehensively promote market-oriented reforms, but has been blocked many times.

It's no different now than it was back then, no one dares to approve it.

Many people in office would rather not do something than make a mistake.

To operate patents, you need to buy the patents from research institutes, state-owned enterprises, public institutions, and universities, and then operate them in a market-oriented manner to make money through large-scale licensing.

This is very sensitive.

At what price should state-owned assets be sold to private enterprises?

If the price is too high, private enterprises will think it is not cost-effective and will not buy it; if the price is too low, private enterprises will become jealous when they make a lot of money, and there will be suspicion of the loss of state-owned assets.

In order to avoid disputes, simply don't trade.

I would rather keep it in my hands and let it grow moldy to avoid the loss of assets, than let it go to the private sector to make money through market-oriented operations.

In fact, Ziweixing and Aisda have not had deep experience in this aspect. The one who has the deepest experience is Bajixing, which is engaged in the drone business... It was really difficult in the initial stage. Ma Pingshan studied it bit by bit from scratch.

In fact, relevant aerospace research institutes have already concluded this drone technology. It is like a formula. If it is open to the public, it can be used.

Because there was no such relationship, Ma Pingshan later found several universities on Hong Kong Island and merged the previous DJI drone team. He also cooperated with the University of Tokyo and obtained many technology licenses from Japan.

Fortunately, Bajixing’s drone business has already developed.

"Forget it, it's not our turn to worry about it, and there's no point in worrying about it." Zhou Buqi waved his hand and returned to the topic, "So, Aisda is going to join this anti-Google alliance?"

Zhou Shaoning said: "Yes, we will spend a sum of money to form a patent operating company with Apple, Microsoft, Sony, BlackBerry and other companies to buy the 6,000 patent portfolios held by Nortel. This is a self-authorized license.

At least in the short term, Asda has taken the lead in laying out the next generation of 4G mobile phones."

"Work with the Anti-Google Alliance to defeat Google and seize the patents from Nortel. Then force Google to acquire Motorola. At that time, Asda will work with Google to divide Motorola's assets."

When Zhou Buqi said these words, he also felt a little ashamed.

It’s so weird!

This shameless thing is really in line with his boss Zhou's style.

Zhou Shaoning was full of confidence in him and said with a smile: "Yes! I think Larry Page is like a fanboy in front of you, you can handle him!"

Zhou Buqi looked calm and said, "Okay, I'll handle it."
Chapter completed!