From Assets to Profits: Competing for IP Value and Return

I liked this book. It is the compilation of 15 chapters written by 15 different individuals who each claim some sort of expertise when it comes to intellectual property and dealing with it in a business setting. Mr. Berman, the book's editor, masterminded the book project, wrote the introductions ("perspectives") to each of the chapters, and authored Chapter 4 entitled "IP Investing." At the end of each chapter we got a short bio of the author who wrote the chapter. These contributors to the book certainly had impressive credentials. Unfortunately, as with any book with multiple authors, the content of the book did not flow for me from chapter to chapter. Each chapter standing on its own read well. But on the whole the book did not have the feel of something with a beginning, middle, and an end. It had three section breaks or parts as follows: (1) IP Business Models, (2) IP Performance, & (3) IP Transactions. But even these titles did not help pull the book together for me so when I was done I had some feeling of actually having learned something from reading the book. Intellectual property in the hands of a property owner does one, two, or three of the following three things: 1. Limits competition [Having IP creates a barrier from competitors] 2. Enables its owner to stay ahead of the competition [Creating IP fosters innovation] 3. Produces income streams [IP rights can be rented (licensed) in order to generate profits] The book's message is that most IP managers are not savvy. They are not maximizing the profit potential of the IP rights that they are expected to manage. Often times they see profit potential as a competition barrier (#1) and maybe as a licensing opportunity (# 3). Or maybe they see it just a licensing opportunity. But the savvy IP manager has to take his or her blinders off and use whatever IP rights are available and maximize whatever profits can be made through all three of the items on the above list. If your company owns an IP right, then don't worry about putting a value on it. Just worry about maximizing income streams and company value from owning it. 4 stars! PS. If the subject matter of this book interests you, then I highly recommend you take a look at Patent Savvy for Managers: Spot & Protect Valuable Innovations in Your Company. And I encourage you to take a look at the Search Inside feature for the instant book being reviewed. There you will find the Table of Contents so you can see what is specifically included in this book.

I found Bruce Berman's From Assets to Profits to be highly informative. This book contains tons of practical advice for IP Asset Managers, Licensing Professionals, Valuation Professionals and IP lawyers. While the content is rich and detailed, From Assets to Profits is easy to read and comprehend. This is clearly one of the best books dealing with contemporary IP issues on the market. David Wanetick Managing Director IncreMental Advantage

From Assets to Profits takes quite a journey, from a concise history of how IP was used as a tool for licensing a final end product, to how IP can be used across the entire "ecosystem" to affect any of the possible value drivers of companies and industries, such as technology platforms, suppliers etc. This book does a good job of describing the very strong relationship between strategy and tactics, with creative strategies of how IP investing can be a catalyst for ROI of technology itself. You will get to see the weaving of how (a) the current complex US patent reforms being considered and (b) valuation methods, and (c) global issues all effect the current journey of getting ROI from your IP. However, unlike most books on these subjects, you get the important elements most books don't share, like ways to find your valuable patents, the effect of litigation on licensing and how the companies brand can help (or be put at risk) in working on getting returns from you IP. There is a really expert layout of IP transactions , from licensing to M & A to sales of IP and how IP can be used as a financial tool itself , like using IP as a "hedging" tool. This all leading to a wonderful chapter as to where this is all going, that is IP as an asset class. Unlike many books on aspects of IP used as an asset, this covers all the key areas, by chapters written by the thought leaders in the space. I loved the examples, graphs and frameworks, which allows the reader to be able to start to use the book as a great starting place to do real work. I would highly suggest this book for the novice and expert alike. John Cronin, Managing Director, ipCapital Group