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IP Charities

 Thars gold in them there transfer of patent property rights.
  (+6)
(+6) 		  [vote for,
against]

97% of patents never make any money. It would be great if you could donate patents that are expiring, ones that you don't have the time or inclination to pursue or if it's a great patent, and you just want to be a nice guy, as a philanthropist. Perhaps, charities may be able to find a market and license them for a continuing source of income. Or these patents could be donated to schools in which the students can have a real stake in developing the idea, writing business plans, possibly finding a small niche for some income. Perhaps also used for rehabilitation as a carrot to learn about the business needed in order to exploit the property that you now own.
—leinypoo13, Dec 16 2009

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       That is a FANTASTIC idea, 'poo. Yes, most of the donated patents would be duds, but a few would or could yield something. You'd have to be careful that the patents were past the stage where they require costly maintenance, but I'm sure a way could be found.   

       Brilliant [+]
—MaxwellBuchanan, Dec 16 2009
   

       One wonders how much effort/money would go into defending these donated patents. After all, I might be more inclined to steal IP from a charity if I'm sure they haven't the means to prosecute me.
—phoenix, Dec 16 2009
   

       // One wonders how much effort/money would go into defending these donated patents.   

       Maybe, but I bet some high-priced lawyers would love to do pro bono work defending the property of a small charity over a multi-national corporation. It's good press for them and bad press for the others.   

       //It might be a bit depressing for someone of your age, but everything is tradeable, has a price and if somone has thought of a profit, its 99% been done before.   

       This assumes that everyone who owns a patent, has the skill, interest, desire or wherewithal to bring it to market. Surely, among that 97% there are good ideas that are simply not pursued or pursued poorly. If the market is so smart and non-commercialization is proof of lack of value, then give them away. Personally, when looking through patents I see lots of failed business opportunities. Not million dollar ideas but thousand dollar ideas. Either great ideas that were not marketed effectively, or where the owners did not seek to take advantage of the market, because the market was too small for them. But that is a relative concept and one persons trash is another persons treasure.   

       For example, I wanted to put a timer on a football. This is so that when playing football with only six friends, the timer would serve as the linebackers rushing the quarterback. Turns it out it was baked in 1998, by some small sports equipment company. Now, its been 11 years and it hasn't been on the market. Likely because it is not economical for them to bring it to market, but that doesn't mean it might not be economical for some. A donated patent from this sports company, could be developed by people on a smaller scale and be profitable, both in terms of dollars and work dedicated to bring it to market.   

       That being said, a good patent is valuable and some inventors with enough on their plate or a big heart I think would donate. It would be less money and less work.
—leinypoo13, Dec 16 2009
   

       Sounds like you have not had the courage to try any of your ideas or you have failed and regret it. Oh well, don't spoil the party for others.
—leinypoo13, Dec 16 2009
   

       I endorse this idea, but only on the condition that it is not used as a tax write-off scam (for individuals or companies).
—xaviergisz, Dec 17 2009
   

       Should this be called IP Donations? After all the charities here receive the IP rights rather than encourage the creation of IP itself.
—Aristotle, Dec 17 2009
   


 

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