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Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 1
Patent transaction trends for 2012
October, 2013
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 2
Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Approach and Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 3
Overview of Results ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Top Technologies Transacted in 2012........................................................................................................ 5
Top Assignors in 2012 ................................................................................................................................ 7
Top Assignees in 2012 ............................................................................................................................... 8
University and Research Institution transactions in 2012....................................................................... 10
Quarter 1, 2012 ........................................................................................................................................... 11
Top Technologies Transacted in Q1, 2012 ............................................................................................... 13
University and Research Institution transactions in Q1, 2012 ................................................................ 17
Quarter 2, 2012 ........................................................................................................................................... 19
Top Technologies Transacted in Q2, 2012 ............................................................................................... 21
University and Research Institution transactions in Q2, 2012 ................................................................ 26
Quarter 3, 2012 ........................................................................................................................................... 28
Top Technologies Transacted in Q3, 2012 ............................................................................................... 30
University and Research Institution transactions in Q3, 2012 ................................................................ 34
Quarter 4, 2012 ........................................................................................................................................... 36
Top Technologies Transacted in Q4, 2012 ............................................................................................... 38
University and Research Institution transactions in Q4, 2012 ................................................................ 42
Summary ..................................................................................................................................................... 43
About Relecura ............................................................................................................................................ 44
Disclaimer.................................................................................................................................................... 44
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 3
Introduction Studying the assignment records of patent applications at the USPTO can provide multiple insights. In the
first instance, it helps us track the chain of title and thus determine the current owner of a patent asset.
Subsequently, studying transactions in a technology area of interest suggests leads for commercialization,
by short-listing potential licensees or buyers iin the case of a patent sale.. In addition, you can use this to
get better insights while conducting a portfolio analysis.
This white paper discusses the trends in patent transactions that occurred during 2012. Studying these
transactions has indeed displayed some interesting developments in several technologies such as Digital
data processing methods, Digital transmission, Ink Jet Printers and others. We have analyzed how patent
transactions between different organizations as well as universities have led to specific trends across
several industries.
Approach and Methodology We have used Relecura to search and analyze all of the assignment records for the year 2012 to obtain
various trends and insights. The trends have been determined for each of the quarters of 2012.
The following considerations apply to the analysis presented in this report:
The analysis is restricted to US patent applications where assignment transfer records are available at the USPTO.
We have used information available in the public domain. This includes assignment transfers recorded at the USPTO and other information published online.
Unless otherwise specified, the counts shown indicate the number of assignment transfers recorded, also referred to as transactions.
The various counts given (assignment transfers, transactions on individual patent assets or publications) should be taken as indicative. A more comprehensive search is required to arrive at the definitive counts of each of these parameters. The assignment transfers involving the grant of a "confirmatory license" have been analyzed separately. This is typically encountered in the case of an institution transferring ownership rights back to a corporate or Government agency for patent applications filed in the course of funded research.
The raw assignment data is cleaned up within Relecura based on the above considerations to get a
relatively clean set of assignment transfers arising out of a result of genuine patent transactions. Do read
our blog post [here] for more details on how the assignment data clean-up may be efficiently
accomplished. In connection to the clean-up of the raw data of the recorded assignment transfers, the
following points should be noted:
The assignment transfers arising from a "change of name" have been removed.
The assignment transfers from companies to banks, as collateral or security for financing, have not been considered.
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 4
Inter-subsidiary transactions and transactions between parent companies and their subsidiaries and vice-versa are not considered.
Inventor assignments (to the parent company) are not considered.
The following information and charts have been provided for each of the quarters.
Top assignors
Top assignees
Top assignor vs. assignee
Top 10 high level technologies (Top CPC sub-class)
Top assignor vs. assignee in the top technology
Top 25 sub-technologies (a more granular view at the CPC group-level)
Top assignor and assignee in each of the top 25 sub-technologies
Top assignors in the top 25 technologies
Top assignees in the top 25 technologies
Top assignors vs. assignees in the top 25 technologies
Confirmatory licenses arising from university or contract research, granted to U.S. Government agencies
Other university transactions (to companies or to other external entities)
Overview of Results The findings for each quarter are presented in individual sections of this report. Given below are the
findings across the year 2012.
Table 1. Quarter-wise break-up of assignment transfers for 2012
Quarter Number of
Transactions
Number of
Publications
Q1 21924 20667
Q2 29518 27877
Q3 21374 19168
Q4 20628 19460
The quarter-wise break-up of assignment transfers are shown in Table 1. The total number of assignment
transfers recorded, which are connected to genuine patent transactions is given in the second column.
This is typically greater than or equal to the number of publications. A single publication may have
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 5
undergone multiple transactions in the given period. The number of transactions per quarter in 2012 range
from approximately 20,000 to 30,000.
Top Technologies Transacted in 2012
Figure 1. Top technologies transacted in 2012 based on CPC top sub-class. A description of each CPC sub-class is
tabulated below. Figures given are the number of transactions.
Table 2. CPC sub-class descriptions of top technologies transacted in 2012.
CPC sub-class Technology CPC sub-class Technology
G06F Digital data processing
methods
H04W, H04M Wireless communication and
devices
H04L Digital transmission G06Q Data processing systems for
various applications
B41J Ink Jet Printers A61K Preparation of medicines
H01L Semiconductor devices A61B Surgical instruments &
diagnostic devices
H04N Image/video Transmission G06K Data recognition and record
carriers
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
27343981
18272546
1975
2787
15621428
5901
549
1271
1215
1877 1677
963
2746
982561
1384
1354
1502
834
1000
1305
1466
916
943
960
1077
1221
774
1338
788
1452
632
No
. of
Tran
sact
ion
s
G06K
A61B
A61K
G06Q
H04W, H04M
H04N
H01L
B41J
H04L
G06F
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 6
Digital data processing [G06F] patents were the most heavily transacted across the four quarters
of 2012 (the top transacted in Q1 and Q4). In Q2 2012, Ink jet printers [B41J] surpassed this
technology domain in terms of number of transactions. This was due to a large transaction by
Silverbrook Research to Zamtec in Q2. Digital data processing patent transactions were however
the second most transacted technology category in Q2.
Semiconductor devices [H01L] and Medicine preparations [A61K] also saw a significant number
of transactions across various quarters.
The category of Surgical instruments and diagnostic devices [A61B] was absent from the top ten
transacted technologies in Q3 (it was present in the other quarters of 2012).
There were a significant number of transactions in the Image transmission category [H04N] in Q2,
primarily due to assignment transfers from Silverbrook Research. Some of these transactions will
be the same as the transaction involving the transfer of patent assets pertaining to Ink jet printers
from Silverbrook to Zamtec.
Table 3. Top technologies transacted in 2012 based on CPC class codes (group level)
Description CPC class codes Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
Television system hardware H04N 5/00, H04N 7/00, H04N 2209/00, H04N 9/00
720 2103 1243 216 4282
Data processing systems for e-commerce and shopping
G06Q 30/00 609 635 955 487 2686
Communication control and processing in digital transmission
H04L 29/02 715 1046 665 2426
Data switching networks H04L 12/00, H04L 2012/00, H04L 45/00
527 959 454 404 2344
Information retrieval, database & structures
G06F 17/30 531 878 400 380 2189
User interface arrangements
G06F 3/00 468 1018 668 2154
Packet switching network H04L 41/00, H04L 47/00, H04L 49/00, H04L 51/00, H04L 43/00
506 907 354 311 2078
Scanning, transmission and reproduction of the documents
H04N 1/00, H04N 2201/00 964 992 1956
Data processing systems for administration and management
G06Q 10/00 501 639 398 341 1879
Surgical instruments A61B 17/00, A61B 2017/00, A61B 18/00, A61B 2018/00, A61B 8/00
399 960 449 1808
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 7
Table 3 provides a granular view of the top technologies transacted in 2012 based on the CPC class at the
group-level.
● Patents related to Television system hardware [H04N] have seen consistent transactions across 2012, but for a significant decrease in Q4.
● The transactions indicate a strong interest in patents related to E-commerce and online shopping related technologies.
● User interface related patents, though not transacted in Q3, have seen interest in the other quarters.
● Patents related data and packet switching networks are consistently transacted in all the quarters.
Top Assignors in 2012 Figure 2 displays companies that have assigned their patents to others in 2012.
● Silverbrook Research has the largest number of recorded transactions at the USPTO for 2012. In Q2 they assigned a large number of patents to Zamtec, mostly in the area of Ink jet printers. In Q3 they assigned some of their patents to Google.
● Other significant assignors across multiple quarters in 2012 include IBM and NEC. ● Some of the top companies that have transacted only in a single quarter are Nexteer, assigning
patents to Steering Solutions [Q1], Zoran [Q1], AOL [Q2], and Trident Microsystems [Q2].
Figure 2. Top assignors for 2012
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
14091040 842
6085
1537
159815
151773
1085
1325
483
120634
884
507
777
No
. of
Tran
sact
ion
s
Assignor
Q4
Q3
Q2
Q1
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 8
Top Assignees in 2012
Figure 3 shows companies that have acquired patents in 2012.
● Google was one of the more consistent acquirers of patent assets in 2012, with recorded transactions in all but one quarter.
● Facebook is another significant acquirer of patent assets. Their transactions show up in two out of the four quarters.
● Other consistent acquirers include Zamtec ia large transaction involving several Ink jet patents from Silverbrook Research., Steering Solutions IP Holdings, RPX Corp, and Acacia Research.
Figure 3. Top assignees for 2012
Table 4. Summary of top transactions for 2012
Assignors Assignees Technologies
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
SILVERBROOK RESEARCH
ZAMTEC LTD GOOGLE • Inkjet printers• Television system hardware• Security arrangements for protecting computers• Interface arrangements• Scanning, transmission and reproduction of the documents
• Printers• Television system hardware• Still Video Cameras• Security arrangements for protecting computers• Sensing record carriers
IBM FACEBOOK TOSHIBA, EBAY,
ACTIVISION PUBLISHING INC,
• Communication control & processing in digital
• Data processing systems for e-commerce and shopping• Payment architecture and
• Data processing systems for administration and management• User interface
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
8771394
1040 840
6045
1095
836476
815221
1267
162
394
604
953277
589
No
of
Tran
sact
ion
s
Assignee
Q4
Q3
Q2
Q1
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 9
ULTRATECH INC
MENTOR GRAPHICS CORP, CITRIX
transmission• Manufacture/treatment of semiconductor devices• Data switching networks• Information retrieval, database & structures• Data processing systems for administration and management
protocols• Data processing systems for finance, insurance and tax strategies• Data processing systems for administration and management• Connecting or disconnecting semiconductors
arrangements• Information retrieval, database & structures• Data switching networks• Data processing systems for e-commerce and shopping
AOL INC FACEBOOK, MICROSOFT, MARATHON
• Security arrangements for protecting computers• Interface arrangements• Communication control and processing in digital transmission• Data switching networks• Information retrieval, database & structures
NEC RAKUTEN INC
WARREN & LEWIS INVESTMENT CORP
GOLD CHARM LTD
• Data processing systems for e-commerce and shopping• Optical recorder• Data switching network
Telephone equipment, circuits & software
• Light modulation, demodulation, switching & gating• Multiple step manufacturing process of semiconductor devices• Manufacture of multiple devices on a single common substrate• Manufacture/treatment of semiconductor devices• Light guides
NEXTEER / PACIFIC MOTORS
STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORP
Steering of motor vehicles
IPG ELECTRONICS
PENDRAGON WIRELESS LLC
KOREA ELECTRONICS
• Television system hardware• Interactive television• Wireless Network traffic management
• Lasers• Optical devices
ZORAN CORPORATION
CSR TECHNOLOGY INC.
• Television system hardware• User interface arrangements
FUJIFILM NICHIA CORP UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORP
Semiconductor lasers • OLED device manufacturing process• Electroluminescent Materials• Manufacture of multiple devices on a single common substrate
QUALCOMM ATHEROS, INC.
QUALCOMM • Data and packet switching networks• Transmission control procedure• Network security
TRIDENT MICROSYSTEMS INC
ENTROPIC COMM INC
• Television system hardware• Interactive television
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Patent transaction trends for 2012 10
University and Research Institution transactions in 2012 Approximately 4000 transactions have arisen out of funded research by various U.S. Government agencies.
This can be typically tracked by studying assignment transfers from either universities or contract research
institutions, to the Government agency. These assignment transfers are tagged with a "confirmatory
license" in the conveyance text of the USPTO assignment record.
Figure 4. Top University and contract research related assignment transfers to Government agencies in 2012
Figure 5 shows the top few assignment transfers from universities to external entities, typically companies.
A little over 1000 such recorded assignment transfers were found for 2012.
Figure 5. Top University assignment transfers to external entities in 2012
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
246
191153 154
109 100 10783 90
59 61
25
62
10
11 2
3
88 862 6
68
131
22
2819
114
320 7
127
10
13
26
12
12
9
15
2
21
1
No
. of
Tran
sact
ion
s
Assignor
US AIRFORCE
US ARMY
NSF
US ENERGY
NIH
0
5
10
15
20
25
20
13
1514
11
1312
12
9
9
10 10 10
No
. of
Tran
sact
ion
s
ASSIGNOR
INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY CO., LTD.
JSOL CORPORATION
PST SENSORS (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED
INTELLECTUAL VENTURES HOLDING 74 LLC
FACEBOOK INC
SOUTHERN GAS ASSOCIATION GAS MACHINERYRESEARCH COUNCIL
BONANZA TECHNOLOGIES LLC
SYNGENE LTD
VALORISATION-RECHERCHE LLP
INVENSAS CORP
UT BATTELLE LLC
ONCOTHERAPY SCIENCE INC
EFIELD INNOVATIONS, LLC
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Patent transaction trends for 2012 11
Quarter 1, 2012
Top Assignors Top Assignees IBM Facebook
Nexteer Technology Steering Solutions
Pacific Century Motors Inc Google
Zoran Corp CSR Technology Inc
Verigy Pte Ltd ADVANTEST
Pelikan Technologies Inc Sanofi Aventis
Pactiv Corp Reynolds Consumer Products
Inphase Tech Inc Acadia Woods Partners LLC
KLJ Consulting LLC Intellectual Ventures
Sanyo Murata
Figure 6. Top assignors Q1 2012
Figure 7. Top assignees Q1 2012
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Patent transaction trends for 2012 12
Figure 8. Assignor vs. assignee matrix for Q1, 2012
Notable transactions in Q1, 2012:
● Facebook buys close to 1348 patent assets from IBM imore details. ● Steering Solutions IP Holdings acquires patents from Nexteer Automotive and Pacific Century
Motors imore details. ● Google acquires patent assets from KLJ Consulting LLC i214., Mosaid Tech Inc i156., Modu Ltd
i118., Computer Associates Think Inc i100., Magnolia Broadband Inc i93., Unisys Corp i41. and others.
○ Google buys former Pirelli patents from Mosaid imore details. ○ Google buys beam-forming patents from Magnolia imore details. ○ Google acquires Modu's mobile patents imore details. ○ Google acquires Unisys Patents, Including a Java API Patent imore details.
● Zoran Corp assigns 840 patent assets to CSR Technology Inc. imerger.. CSR and Zoran combine to create a leading provider of platforms and solutions to the global consumer electronics industry imore details.
● Advantest Corp acquires 535 patent assets from Verigy. Advantest completed its acquisition of Verigy in an all cash deal valued at $1.1 billion imore details.
● Sanofi Aventis acquires 304 patent assets from Pelikan Technologies Inc. ● Reynolds has acquired 277 patent assets from Pactiv. Reynolds Group has completed its
acquisition of Pactiv Corp for US$ 4.6bn imore details. ● Acadia Woods Partners acquire 230 patent assets from Inphase Tech Inc
These patents were then transferred to Akonia Holographics, LLC which was launched in August 2012 after closing on an $10.8 million investment round from Acadia Woods Partners, LLC in New York imore details. ieven more details.
● Pulse Link Inc has assigned 185 patent assets to Intellectual Ventures holding 73 LLC
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Patent transaction trends for 2012 13
● Murata acquired 161 patent assets from Renesas. Murata closed the purchase of Renesas' high-power amplifier business imore details.
● Global Advanced Metals buys 156 patent assets from Cabot. Global Advanced Metals Buys Cabot Supermetals, Closes Wodgina Tantalum Mine imore details.
● AT&T assigns141 patent assets to Chanyu Holdings LLC ● Autocell Laboratories transfers 133 patent assets to Piccata Fund LLC ● Rockstar Bidco LP - a consortium floated by RIM, Apple, Sony, EMC, Ericsson, and Microsoft for the
purchase and commercialization of Nortel patents, assigns 393 patents to 2256355 Ontario Limited ia RIM subsidiary.. Rockstar seeks buyers for Nortel social networking and LCD patents imore details.
Top Technologies Transacted in Q1, 2012
Table 5. Top technologies transacted in Q1 2012 [Top-level CPC sub-class]
Technology Top sub-class
(CPC)
Number of
publications
Number of
transactions
Digital data processing methods G06F 2591 2734
Digital transmission H04L 1861 1975
Wireless communication and devices H04W, H04M 1306 1384
Semiconductor devices H01L 1201 1271
Data processing systems for various
applications
G06Q 953 1000
Preparation of medicines A61K 891 943
Image/video transmission H04N 890 963
Transmission systems H04B 741 786
Surgical instruments & diagnostic
devices
A61B 704 774
Motor vehicles; trailers B62D 678 688
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Patent transaction trends for 2012 14
Top assignors G06F: IBM, Zoran Corp, Verigy Pte Ltd, Netezza Corp, Computer Associates Think Inc.
Top assignees G06F: Facebook, Google, CSR Technology, Advantest, IBM.
Figure 9. Assignor-assignee matrix for Q1, 2012 transactions in the Digital Data Processing CPC sub-class [G06F]
Table 6. Top 25 technologies transacted in Q1 2012 based on CPC classification code (group-level). Figures in
brackets indicate the number of transactions.
Technology Class Code Number of Publications
Number of Transactions
Assignor Assignee
Communication Control and processing in Digital transmission
H04L 29/02 690 715 AUTOCELL LABSi91. IBMi48.
Googlei114. PICCATA FUND LLCi91.
Steering of motor vehicles B62D 1/00, B62D 5/00, B62D 6/00, B62D 7/00, B62D 15/00, B62D 3/00, B62D 9/00, B62D 11/00,
666 666 NEXTEER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.i660.
STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPi660.
Television system hardware H04N 5/00, H04N 7/00, H04N 2209/00, H04N 9/00
660 720 ZORAN CORPORATIONi291. AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.i64.
CSR TECHNOLOGY INC.i289. CHANYU HOLDINGS, LLCi64.
Data processing systems for e-commerce and shopping
G06Q 30/00 575 609 KLJ CONSULTING LLCi40. WALKER DIGITAL LLCi36.
GOOGLEi63. FACEBOOK INCi55.
Manufacture/treatment of semiconductor devices
H01L 21/00, H01L 2221/00 515 530 IBMi65. SEIKO EPSON CORPi43. SANYO ELECTRIC COi41.
FACEBOOK INCi61. SAMSUNGi43. FUTURE LIGHT, LLCi41.
Data Switching Networks H04L 12/00, H04L 2012/00, H04L 45/00 502 527 IBMi92. KLJ CONSULTING LLCi44.
FACEBOOK INCi92. GOOGLEi58.
Information Retrieval, database & Structures
G06F 17/30 500 531 IBMi154. NETEZZA CORPi40.
FACEBOOK INCi152. GOOGLEi58. IBMi43.
Diagnostic devices A61B 5/00 489 540 PELIKAN TECHNOLOGIES INCi284. TECHNISCAN, INC.i36.
SANOFIi284. BIOTEX PHARMA INVESTMENTS, LLCi36.
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 15
CELUME DEVELOPMENT LLCi32.
TECHNIKKA CONEXION, LLCi32.
Data processing systems for administration and management
G06Q 10/00 484 501 KLJ CONSULTING LLCi116. IBMi43.
GOOGLEi133. FACEBOOK INCi67.
Packet Switching network H04L 41/00, H04L 47/00, H04L 49/00, H04L 51/00, H04L 43/00
472 506 AUTOCELL LABORATORIES, INC.i100. IBMi76.
PICCATA FUND LLCi100. FACEBOOK INCi76.
User interface arrangements G06F 3/00 440 468 AVAGO TECH ECBU IP SG PTE LTDi60. ZORAN CORPORATIONi48.
CSR TECHNOLOGY INC.i48. PIXART IMAGING INCi46.
Testing Electrical properties G01R 31/00 440 444 VERIGY PTE LTD SINGAPOREi309. IBMi61.
ADVANTESTi309. FACEBOOK INCi61.
Control unit in Data processing
G06F 9/00 417 432 IBMi216. FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR INCi25.
FACEBOOK INCi196. RYO HOLDINGS, LLCi25.
Wireless Network traffic management
H04W 28/00, H04W 72/00, H04W 16/00, H04W 8/00
413 437 AUTOCELL LABORATORIES, INC.i112. KLJ CONSULTING LLCi84.
PICCATA FUND LLCi112. GOOGLEi107.
Medicines containing organic active ingredients
A61K 31/00 384 396 CYTOKINE PHARMASCIENCES INCi25.
FERRING BVi27.
Wireless network topologies H04W 84/00 365 394 KLJ CONSULTING LLCi133. AUTOCELL LABORATORIES, INC.i101. CELUME DEVELOPMENT LLCi36.
GOOGLEi145. PICCATA FUND LLCi101. TECHNIKKA CONEXION, LLCi36.
Surgical Instruments A61B 17/00, A61B 2017/00, A61B 18/00, A61B 2018/00, A61B 8/00
358 399 PELIKAN TECHNOLOGIES INCi137. TECHNISCAN, INC.i46.
SANOFIi137. BIOTEX PHARMA INVESTMENTS, LLCi46.
Error Detection in Data processing
G06F 11/00 329 343 IBMi165. VERIGY PTE LTD SINGAPOREi30.
FACEBOOK INCi153. ADVANTESTi30.
Connecting or disconnecting semiconductors
H01L 24/00, H01L 2224/00, H01L 2924/00 304 338 RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPi49. NXP BVi32. SEIKO EPSON CORPi25.
MURATAi49. SEONG CAPITAL LTD. i32. SAMSUNGi25.
Chemical analysis of biological material like urine or blood
G01N 33/50, G01N 2333/00 302 315 PELIKAN TECHNOLOGIES INCi131. POWER 3 MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.i18.
SANOFIi131. NEOGENOMICS, INC.i18.
Program control H04L 63/00, H04L 2463/00 297 332 CELUME DEVELOPMENT LLCi36. IBMi28. COMPUTER ASS THINK INCi26.
GOOGLEi37. TECHNIKKA CONEXION, LLCi36. FACEBOOK INCi28.
Telephone equipment, circuits & software
H04M 1/00, H04M 2201/00 291 315 MODU LTDi58. CELUME DEVELOPMENT LLCi36. ALCATEL LUCENTi26.
GOOGLEi67. TECHNIKKA CONEXION, LLCi36. GENESYS TELECOMM LAB INCi26.
Wireless communication network devices
H04W 88/00 288 297 AUTOCELL LABORATORIES, INC.i107. AIRWALK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.i49.
PICCATA FUND LLCi107. UBEEAIRWALK, INC.i49.
Error detecting and preventing in Digital transmission
H04L 1/00, H04L 2001/00 284 295 AUTOCELL LABORATORIES, INC.i97. PULSE LINK INCi52.
PICCATA FUND LLCi97. INTELLECTUAL VENTURES HOLDING 73 LLCi52.
Power Management in wireless communication
H04W 52/00 283 295 AUTOCELL LABSi98. KLJ CONSULTING LLCi86. MAGNOLIA BROADBAND INCi38.
GOOGLEi125. PICCATA FUND LLCi98.
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Patent transaction trends for 2012 16
Figure 10. Top assignors - Q1, 2012 transactions in the top 25 technologies by CPC class code
Figure 11. Top assignees - Q1, 2012 transactions in the top 25 technologies by CPC class code
Figure 12. Assignor-assignee matrix for Q1, 2012 transactions in the top 25 technologies by CPC class code
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 17
Facebook acquired patent assets from IBM in the following technologies:
● Data processing systems for e-commerce and shopping ● Data switching networks ● Manufacture/treatment of semiconductor devices ● Information retrieval, database & structures ● Packet switching networks ● Data processing systems for administration and management ● Testing of electrical properties ● Control unit in data processing ● Error detection in data processing ● Program control
Steering solutions IP Holding Corp acquired assets from Nexteer Automotive & Pacific Century Motors in
the following domains,
● Motor vehicle steering
Google acquired patent assets from KLJ Consulting LLC, Computer Associates Think Inc, Modu Ltd,
Magnolia Broadband Inc, Unisys Corp and Fujitsu in the following technology areas,
● Communication control and processing in digital transmission ● Data processing systems for e-commerce and shopping ● Data switching networks ● Wireless network traffic management ● Information retrieval, database & structures ● Data processing systems for administration and management ● Wireless network topologies ● Program control ● Power management in wireless communication ● Telephone equipment, circuits & software
University and Research Institution transactions in Q1, 2012
Top universities or contract research institutions [Assignor]: MIT, Stanford University, Los Alamos National
Lab, Harvard University, California University.
Top Government funding agencies [Assignee]: National Institute of Health (NIH), US Energy, National
Science Foundation (NSF), US Army, NASA, US Air Force.
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Patent transaction trends for 2012 18
Figure 13. University and contract research related assignment transfers to Government agencies for Q1 2012.
These arise from funded research and are usually tagged with a "confirmatory license" in the conveyance text.
Figure 14. Assignor-assignee matrix for university transactions to external entities for Q1, 2012
Top universities or contract research institutions [Assignor]: New York University, Japan Research Institute,
Maryland University, Southwest Research Institute and Cape Town University.
Top external assignees: Southern Gas Association Gas Machinery Research Council, US Veterans Affairs
Dept, PST Sensors Ltd, JSOL Corp, Facebook.
0
40
80
120
160
65
51
34
19
4236
26
4
2514
2417
3
188
13
2
56 19 1
3629 25 2
1
69
15 4 5
9
28 16
192
7
3
24
1
5
1
1
27
6
2
3
ASSIGNORS
US AIRFORCE
NASA
US ARMY
NSF
US ENERGY
NIH
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 19
Quarter 2, 2012
Top Assignors Top Assignees Silverbrook Research Zamtec Ltd
AOL Inc Facebook Inc
IPG Electronics RPX Corp
Trident Microsystems Entropic Comm Inc
Automotive Tech Int Pendragon Wireless LLC
Realnetworks Inc American Vehicular Sciences LLC
Martek Biosciences Corp Intel
OAR Island LLC DSM IP Assets BV
CPTN Holdings LLC Rakuten Inc
Depuy Berry Plastics Corp
Figure 15. Top assignors Q2, 2012
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s
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Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 20
Figure 16. Top assignees for Q2, 2012
Figure 17. Assignor-assignee matrix for Q2, 2012
Notable transactions in Q2, 2012:
● Silverbrook Research assigns a large number of assets to Zamtec in this quarter ● Facebook acquires patents from AOL imore details. ● RPX Corp. acquires patent assets from OAR Island LLC, Hupper Island LLC, and Nokia imore details. ● Entropic Communications acquires 773 patents from Trident Microsystems imore details. ieven
more details.
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2,000
3,000
4,000
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6,000
7,000
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. of
Tran
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s
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Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 21
● Pendragon wireless acquires 815 patent assets from IPG Electronics Ltd ● American Vehicular Sciences LLC, a subsidiary of Acacia Research Corporation, acquires 418 patent
assets from Automotive Technology International imore details. ● Realnetworks sells 341 patent assets to Intel ● RealNetworks, Inc. announced today that it has completed the sale of patents and has signed an
agreement with Intel Corporation for $120 million imore details. ● Intel acquires 47 patents from OLAworks imore details. ● DSM acquires 313 patent assets from Martek. The company reported that DSM acquired Martek
for 700 million USD in Feb 2011 imore details. ● Rakuten acquires patent assets from NEC Corp and JVC Kenwood Corp ● Berry Plastics acquires around 300 patent assets from Rexam Closures imore details. ● Microsoft acquires 255 patent assets from AOL. Microsoft agrees to pay more than $1 billion for
800 patents held by AOL imore details. ● Apple acquires 270 patents from CPTN Holdings, a consortium of Microsoft, Apple Inc, Oracle and
EMC Corporation, that holds patents originally assigned to Novell imore details. ● Apple gets the title to 131 patent assets from Anobit. Anobit was purchased on January 6, 2012
by Apple Inc. for a reported $390 million. ● Micron acquires 263 patent assets from ST Microelectronics and Numonyx ijoint venture between
Intel and STM.. STMicroelectronics Completes the Sale of Numonyx to Micron Technology imore details.
● Biomet acquires 259 patents from DePuy. Biomet announces initial closing of DePuy Trauma acquisition imore details.
● Marathon Solutions LLC acquires 209 patent assets from AOL ● Rockstar Bidco LP assigns 1573 patent assets to Apple and 281 to Microsoft
Top Technologies Transacted in Q2, 2012
Transactions in this quarter are dominated by a single deal in the area of printer technology between
Silverbrook Research and Zamtec. The area of Digital data processing [G06F], once again, is the most
heavily transacted technology area, across the board.
Table 7. Top technologies transacted in Q2, 2012 [Top-level CPC sub-class]
Technology Top sub-class
(CPC)
Number of
publications
Number of
transactions
Printers B41J 5777 5901
Digital data processing methods G06F 4148 3981
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 22
Digital transmission H04L 2527 2787
Image/video Transmission H04N 2715 2746
Wireless communication and devices H04W, H04M 1215 1354
Data recognition and record carriers G06K 1465 1452
Data processing systems for various
applications
G06Q 1403 1305
Surgical Instruments & Diagnostic
devices
A61B 1390 1338
Semiconductor devices H01L 1156 1215
Preparation of medicines A61K 1028 960
Top assignors G06F: Silverbrook Research, AOL, CPTN Holdings, OAR Island LLC.
Top assignees G06F: Zamtec, Facebook, RPX Corp, Apple, Intel.
Figure 18. Assignor-assignee matrix - Q2, 2012 transactions in the Digital Data Processing CPC sub-class [G06F]
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 23
Table 8. Top 25 technologies transacted in Q2, 2012 based on CPC classification code (group-level). Figures in
brackets indicate the number of transactions.
Technology Class Code Number of
Publications
Number of
Transactions
Assignor Assignee
Inkjet printers B41J 5777 5901 SILVERBROOK RESi5872. ZAMTEC LIMITEDi5,872.
Television system hardware
H04N 5/00, H04N 7/00, H04N 9/00
2080 2103 SILVERBROOK RESi860. TRIDENT MICROSYSTEMSi336. IPG ELECTRONICSi198.
ZAMTEC LIMITEDi860. ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS INCi336. PENDRAGON WIRELESS LLCi188.
Security arrangements for protecting computers
G06F 21/00, G06F 2221/00 1040 1051 SILVERBROOK RESi639. CPTN HOLDINGS LLCi91. REALNETWORKS INCi50. AOL INCi42.
ZAMTEC LIMITEDi639. APPLE INCi91. INTEL CORPi54. FACEBOOK INCi42
Interface arrangements
G06F 3/00 977 1018 SILVERBROOK RESi303. TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPi143. AOL INCi67.
ZAMTEC LIMITEDi303. ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.i149. RPX CORPORATIONi72. FACEBOOK INCi67.
Scanning, transmission and reproduction of the documents
H04N 1/00, H04N 2201/00 963 964 SILVERBROOK RESi874. PHILIPSi11.
ZAMTEC LIMITEDi874. TP VISION HOLDING B.V.i11.
Communication control and processing in digital transmission
H04L 29/02 951 1046 AOL INCi318. REALNETWORKS INCi60.
FACEBOOK INCi280. INTELi83.
Surgical instruments A61B 17/00, A61B 2017/00, A61B 18/00, A61B 2018/00, A61B 8/00, A61B 19/00
941 960 Depuyi253. P TECH LLCi163. ANGIOTECH PHARM INCi118.
BIOMET C.V.i253. ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLCi203. Ethiconi119.
Data switching networks
H04L 12/00, H04L 2012/00, H04L 45/00
857 959 AOL INCi463. FACEBOOK INCi319. MICROSOFTi92. MARATHON SOLUTIONS LLCi52.
Information retrieval, database & structures
G06F 17/30 837 878 AOLi370. CPTN HOLDINGS LLCi54. REALNETWORKS INCi50.
FACEBOOK INCi258. MICROSOFTi96. INTELi63. APPLEi54.
Digital storage G11C 11/00, G11C 16/00, G11C 7/00, G11C 13/00, G11C 2211/00, G11C 2216/00, G11C 2207/00, G11C 2013/00
816 837 SILVERBROOK RESi632. STMICROELECTRONICSi169.
ZAMTEC LIMITEDi632. MICRON TECHNOLOGYi169.
Packet switching network
H04L 41/00, H04L 47/00, H04L 49/00, H04L 51/00, H04L 43/00
805 907 AOL INCi462. FACEBOOK INCi314. MICROSOFTi98. MARATHON SOLUTIONS LLCi60.
Marking, sensing, and conveying of record carriers;
G06K 7/00, G06K 19/00, G06K 1/00,
755 765 SILVERBROOK RESi687. AUTOMOTIVE TECH INTi21.
ZAMTEC LIMITEDi687. AMERICAN VEHICULAR SCIENCES LLCi21.
Data processing systems for administration and management
G06Q 10/00 605 639 AOL INCi290. CPTN HOLDINGS LLCi27.
FACEBOOK INCi222. MARATHON SOLUTIONS LLCi41. MICROSOFTi29. APPLEi27.
Data processing systems for e-commerce and shopping
G06Q 30/00 574 635 AOL INCi114. REALNETWORKS INCi47.
FACEBOOK INCi116. INTELi52.
Network communication
H04L 63/00, H04L 2463/00 517 564 AOL INCi205. CPTN HOLDINGS LLCi71.
FACEBOOK INCi141. APPLEi71.
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 24
protocols for network security
MARATHON SOLUTIONS LLCi47.
Still video cameras H04N 2101/00 510 510 SILVERBROOK RESi505. ZAMTEC LIMITEDi505. Nano composites B82Y 30/00 478 482 SILVERBROOK RESi422.
NANOSYS INCi19. ZAMTEC LIMITEDi422. SANDISK CORPORATION
Medicines containing organic active ingredients
A61K 31/00 469 512 MARTEK BIOSCIENCES CORPi52. ZARS PHARMA, INC.i22.
DSM IP ASSETS BVi52. NUVO RESEARCHi22.
Power supply, packaging and cooling mechanisms for computers
G06F 1/00 440 446 SILVERBROOK RESi153. OAR ISLAND LLCi51.
ZAMTEC LIMITEDi153. RPX CORPORATIONi65.
Diagnostic devices A61B 5/00 407 440 BONUTTI RESEARCH, INC.i18. KEMETA, LLCi14.
ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLCi18. INVOY TECHNOLOGIES, LLCi14. LIFESYNC CORPORATIONi14.
Interactive television
H04N 21/00 398 409 TRIDENT MICROSYSi68. REALNETWORKS INCi58. IPG ELECTRONICSi53.
ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS INCi68. INTELi58. PENDRAGON WIRELESS LLCi53.
Manufacture/treatment of semiconductor devices
H01L 21/00, H01L 2221/00 369 395 DUPONTi67. HVVI SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.i52. SILVERBROOK RESi35.
AIR PROD & CHEMi75. ESTIVATION PROPERTIES LLCi52. ZAMTEC LIMITEDi35.
Wireless network traffic management
H04W 28/00, H04W 72/00, H04W 16/00, H04W 8/00
362 414 IP WIRELESS INCi52. IPWIRELESS INCi52. AOL INCi36. IPG ELECTRONICS 503 LIMITEDi39.
NVIDIA CORPi52. INTELLECTUAL VENTURES HOLDING 81 LLCi49. PENDRAGON WIRELESSi39.
Arrangement for vehicles for preventing injuries
B60R 21/00, B60R 2021/00, B60R 2022/00, B60R 22/00
344 348 AUTOMOTIVE TECH INTi324.
AMERICAN VEHICULAR SCIENCES LLCi338.
Control unit in data processing
G06F 9/00 322 335 AOL INCi54. CPTN HOLDINGS LLCi36.
FACEBOOK INCi45. APPLEi36. RPX CORPORATIONi35.
Figure 19. Top assignors - Q2, 2012 transactions in the top 25 technologies by CPC class code
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Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 25
Figure 20. Top assignees – Q2, 2012 transactions in the top 25 technologies by CPC class code
Figure 21. Assignor-assignee matrix - Q2, 2012 transactions in the top 25 technologies by CPC class code
Zamtec acquired patents from Silverbrook Research. The bulk of these patents addressed ink-jet printer
technology. Other areas covered are listed below:
● Inkjet printers ● Television system hardware ● Security arrangements for protecting computers ● Interface arrangements ● Scanning, transmission and reproduction of the documents ● Digital storage ● Marking, sensing, and conveying of record carriers ● Still Video Cameras ● Nano Composites ● Power supply, packaging and cooling mechanisms for computers
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
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7,000
No
. of
Tran
sact
ion
s
Normalized Transaction Assignees
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 26
● Manufacture/treatment of semiconductor devices
AOL sold patent assets to Facebook, Marathon Solutions LLC, and Microsoft that addressed the following
technologies.
● Security arrangements for protecting computers ● Interface Arrangements ● Communication Control and processing in Digital transmission ● Data Switching Networks ● Information Retrieval, database & Structures ● Packet Switching network ● Data processing systems for administration and management ● Data processing systems for e-commerce and shopping ● Network communication protocols for network security ● Wireless Network traffic management ● Control unit in Data processing
University and Research Institution transactions in Q2, 2012
Top universities or contract research institutions [Assignor]: Lawrence Livermore Lab, California Institute
of Technology, IBM.
Top Government funding agencies [Assignee]: National Institute of Health (NIH), National Science
Foundation (NSF), US Army, US Energy, NASA, US Air Force.
Figure 22. University and contract research related assignment transfers to Government agencies for Q2 2012.
These arise from funded research and are usually tagged with a "confirmatory license" in the conveyance text.
0
20
40
60
80
5
43 42
12
34 34
14
22 23 2417
25
129 10
13 12
64
6
3
3
103
5
5
54 3
2
4
2
27
1
216 4
201
191
10
ASSIGNORS
US AIRFORCE
NASA
US ENERGY
US ARMY
NSF
NIH
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 27
Top universities or contract research institutions [Assignor]: Monash University, Southwest Research
Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Kyoto University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
Top external assignees: Syngene, Bonanza Tech LLC, Empire Technology Development LLC, Sky Perfect JSAT
Corp.
Figure 23. Assignor-assignee matrix for university transactions to external entities for Q2 2012
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 28
Quarter 3, 2012
Top Assignors Top Assignees IBM Google
Silverbrook Research Toshiba
Fujifilm Universal Display Corp
Raytheon OL Security LLC
Interdigital Technology Corp Warren & Lewis Investment Corp
NEC EBay Inc
Nokia Intel
Sharp Intellectual Discovery Co Ltd
Avago Tech Intellectual Properties I KFT
Acadia Woods Partners LLC Akonia Holographics LLC
Figure 24. Top assignors for Q3 2012
Figure 25. Top assignees for Q3, 2012
0
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800
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1,400
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Tran
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s
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Top Normalized Transaction Assignor
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 29
Figure 26. Assignor vs. assignee matrix for Q3 2012
Notable transactions in Q3, 2012:
● Google acquires 1085 patents from the Silverbrook Research ● IBM acquires 653 patent assets from Toshiba by acquiring IBM's retail Point-of-Sale business for
£533 million imore details. ● Fujifilm sells their OLED patent portfolio of 653 US patents to Universal Display Corp
Fujifilm Corporation sells its worldwide OLED patent portfolio to Universal Display Corporation for US$105 million imore details.
● OL Security LLC ian Intellectual Ventures company. buys 597 US patent assets from Raytheon ● Warren & Lewis Investment Corp acquires 481 patent assets from NEC Corp ● Intel buys 380 patent assets from Interdigital Technology Corp imore details. ● Intellectual Discovery Co Ltd iSouth Korea. buys around 244 assets from Singapore based Avago
Tech imore details. ● Intellectual Properties I KFT acquires 234 patent assets from Sharp KK ● Akonia Holographics acquires 230 assets from Acadia Wood Partners. Acadia Wood Partners had
acquired the title to these patents when Inphase Technologies, the original assignee, had filed for bankruptcy [see Q1, 2012]
● Xenogenic Development LLC acquires 201 patent assets from Intellectual Properties. KFT Vringo Infrastructure acquires 184 patent assets from Nokia. Vringo acquired around 500 patents for 22 million USD from Nokia imore details.
● Astrazenca buys 171 patent assets from Amylin Pharma. In June 2012, AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb announced a two-stage deal for the joint acquisition of the biotechnology company Amylin Pharmaceuticals. It was agreed that Bristol-Myers Squibb would acquire Amylin for $5.3 billion in cash and the assumption of $1.7 billion in debt, with AstraZeneca then paying $3.4 billion in cash to Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Amylin being folded into an existing diabetes joint-venture between AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
● Kellogg acquires 146 patents from P&G. P&G sold its Pringles business to Kellogg in a $2.695 billion all-cash transaction effective June 1, 2012 imore details.
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 30
Top Technologies Transacted in Q3, 2012 In a departure from Q1 and Q2 of 2012, the top transacted technology in Q3, by a small margin, is
semiconductor devices [CPC code H01L].
Table 9. Top technologies transacted in Q3 2012 [Top-level CPC sub-class]
Technology Top sub-class
(CPC)
Number of
publications
Number of
transactions
Semiconductor devices H01L 1877 2172
Digital data processing methods G06F 1827 2400
Digital transmission H04L 1562 1803
Wireless communication and
devices
H04W, H04M 1502 1758
Data processing systems for
various applications
G06Q 1466 1635
Preparations for Medicines A61K 1077 1124
Image/video Transmission H04N 982 1579
Data recognition and record
carriers
G06K 632 944
Static Memories G11C 585 991
Ink Jet Printers B41J 549 1032
Top assignors H01L: Fujifilm, Silverbrook Research, Avago Tech, Sharp.
Top assignees H01L: Universal Display Corp, Google, Intellectual Discovery Co Ltd, Intellectual Properties I
KFT.
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 31
Figure 27. Assignor-assignee matrix for Q3, 2012 transactions in Semiconductor Technologies CPC sub-class [H01L]
Table 10. Top 25 technologies transacted in Q3, 2012 based on CPC classification code (group-level). Figures in
brackets indicate the number of transactions.
Description Class Code
Number of
Publications
Number of
Transactions
Assignor Assignee
Data processing systems for e-commerce and shopping
G06Q 30/00 844 955 IBMi442. EBAY INCi246. TOSHIBAi192.
Television system hardware
H04N 5/00, H04N 7/00, H04N 2209/00, H04N 9/00
762 1243 SILVERBROOK RESi780. NECi20. RAYTHEONi18.
GOOGLE INCi783. WARREN & LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPi20. OL SECURITY LLCi18.
OLED device manufacturing process
H01L 51/00, H01L 2251/00, H05B 33/00 690 688 FUJIFILMi594. AVAGO TECH ECBU IP SG PTE LTDi17.
UDC IRELAND LIMITEDi594. INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY CO., LTD.i17.
Payment architecture and protocols
G06Q 20/00 605 692 IBMi369. TOSHIBAi207. EBAY INCi162.
Communication control and processing in digital transmission
H04L 29/02 551 665 ONLIVE INCi46. NOKIAi44.
INSOLVENCY SERVICES GROUP, INC.i46. VRINGO INFRASTRUCTURE INC.i44.
Printers B41J 2/00, B41J 3/00, B41J 11/00, B41J 15/00, B41J 2202/00, B41J 2002/00, B41J 29/00, B41J 13/00
545 1028 SILVERBROOK RES i900. IBMi69.
GOOGLEi900. TOSHIBAi69.
Scanning, transmission and reproduction of the documents
H04N 1/00, H04N 2201/00 508 992 GOOGLEi938. TOSHIBAi10.
SILVERBROOK RESi938. IBMi10.
Security arrangements for protecting computers
G06F 21/00, G06F 2221/00 438 721 SILVERBROOK RESi511. IBMi33.
GOOGLEi511. EBAY INCi18. TOSHIBAi13.
Wireless network traffic management
H04W 28/00, H04W 72/00, H04W 16/00, H04W 8/00
438 484 INTERDIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CORPi152. NOKIAi62.
INTELi152. VRINGO INFRASTRUCTURE INC.i60.
Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
A61K 31/00 422 429 3Mi59. MEDICIS PHARMAi61.
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 32
Data switching networks H04L 12/00, H04L 2012/00, H04L 45/00 411 454 NOKIAi62. AWARE INCi21. VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC
VRINGO INFRASTRUCTURE INC.i54. TQ DELTA, LLCi21. TEKLA PEHR LLCi20.
Sensing record carriers G06K 7/00 399 689 SILVERBROOK RESi567. SIRIT INC.i34. IBMi16.
GOOGLEi584. 3Mi36. TOSHIBAi16.
Data processing systems for finance, insurance and tax strategies
G06Q 40/00 395 411 IBMi240. EBAY INCi194. TOSHIBAi56.
Record carriers carrying digital markings
G06K 19/00, G06K 2019/00 394 687 SILVERBROOK RESi567. UPM-Kymmene Corpi25.
GOOGLEi567. SMARTRAC IP BVi25.
Still video cameras H04N 2101/00 392 805 SILVERBROOK RESi805. GOOGLEi805. Data processing systems for administration and management
G06Q 10/00 370 398 IBMi170. KIVA SYSTEMS LLCi20.
EBAY INCi104. TOSHIBAi66. AMAZON TECH INCi20.
Printed circuit boards H05K 3/00, H05K 1/00, H05K 2201/00, H05K 2203/00
360 441 SILVERBROOK RESi156. IBMi107. RAYTHEONi54.
GOOGLEi158. ULTRATECH INCi101. OL SECURITY LLCi54.
Connecting or disconnecting semiconductors
H01L 24/00, H01L 2224/00, H01L 2924/00 351 365 IBMi143. AVAGO TECHi47.
ULTRATECH INCi143. INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY CO., LTD.i47.
Information retrieval, database & structures
G06F 17/30 345 400 RETREVO, INCi25. LIKE.COMi20. NOKIAi19.
BARNESANDNOBLE.COM LLCi25. GOOGLEi24. NAVTEQ B.V.i22.
Telephone equipment, circuits & software
H04M 1/00, H04M 2201/00 343 422 NECi154. SILVERBROOK RESi121.
WARREN & LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPi154. GOOGLEi129.
Manufacture/treatment of semiconductor devices
H01L 21/00, H01L 2221/00 339 370 IBMi76. SHARPi22. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES I KFT.i22.
ULTRATECH INCi76. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES I KFT.i22. XENOGENIC DEV LLCi22.
Electroluminescent materials
C09K 11/00, C09K 2211/00 331 332 FUJIFILMi299. AVAGO TECH i16.
UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPi299. INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY CO., LTD.i16.
Packet switching network H04L 41/00, H04L 47/00, H04L 49/00, H04L 51/00, H04L 43/00
312 354 NOKIAi47. HABANERO HOLDINGS, INC.i22.
VRINGO INFRASTRUCTURE INC.i42. ORACLEi22.
Error detecting and preventing in digital transmission
H04L 1/00, H04L 2001/00 304 319 INTERDIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CORPi162. AWARE INCi39.
INTELi162. TQ DELTA, LLCi39.
Manufacture of multiple devices on a single common substrate
H01L 27/00 300 413 SHARP KKi120. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES I KFT.i111. FUJIFILMi75.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES I KFT.i120. XENOGENIC DEVELOPMENT LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANYi111. UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPi75.
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 33
Figure 28. Top assignors - Q3 2012 transactions in the top 25 technologies by CPC class code
Figure 29. Top assignees - Q3, 2012 transactions in the top 25 technologies by CPC class code
Figure 30. Assignor-assignee matrix for Q3 2012 transactions in the top 25 technologies by CPC class code
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
No
. of
Tran
sact
ion
s
Normalized Transaction Assignor
Top Normalized Transaction Assignor
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 34
Google has acquired patents from Silverbrook Research that covers the various technologies including:
● Printers ● Still Video Cameras ● Television system hardware ● Sensing record carriers ● Record carriers carrying digital markings ● Security arrangements for protecting computers ● Printed Circuit boards ● Telephone equipment, circuits & software ● Information Retrieval, database & structures
IBM has transactions with Toshiba, EBay and Ultratech in the technologies of:
● Data processing systems for e-commerce and shopping ● Payment architecture and protocols ● Data processing systems for finance, insurance and tax strategies ● Data processing systems for administration and management ● Connecting or disconnecting semiconductors ● Printed circuit boards ● Manufacture/treatment of semiconductor devices ● Printers ● Security arrangements for protecting computers ● Sensing record carriers
Universal Display Corp has acquired patents from Fujifilm in the following technologies,
● OLED device manufacturing process ● Electroluminescent Materials ● Manufacture of multiple devices on a single common substrate
University and Research Institution transactions in Q3, 2012
Top universities or contract research institutions [Assignor]: MIT, Wayne State University, Sloan-Kettering
Cancer Centre, Harvard University, University of California at San Diego.
Top Government funding agencies [Assignee]: NIH, US Energy, NSF, US Army, US Air Force.
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 35
Figure 31. University and contract research related assignment transfers to Government agencies for Q3 2012.
These arise from funded research and are usually tagged with a "confirmatory license" in the conveyance text.
Top universities or contract research institutions [Assignor]: ITRI, Western Australia University, Korea
Advanced Institute.
Top external assignees: Invensas, Intellectual Discover Co Ltd, Samsung.
Figure 32. Assignor-assignee matrix for university transactions to external entities for Q3 2012
0
40
80
120
160
200
123
89
6552
44 44 3924 22 23 23 21 20
7
1
2
5
55
7
42
4 3 1
22
7
2
1
1
8
ASSIGNORS
US AIR FORCE
US ARMY
NAT SCIENCE FOUND
US ENERGY
NIH
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 36
Quarter 4, 2012
Top Assignors Top Assignees IBM Qualcomm
Atheros Inc Acacia Research Group LLC
Hitachi Google
NEC Gold Charm Limited
Boston Scientific Activision Publishing Inc
Newfrey LLC Spectrum Brands Inc
Graphics Properties Holdings Inc RPX Corp
Showa Denko Toyoda
Smith International Schlumberger
Entorian Technologies Inc iformerly Staktek.
Ovid Data Co LLC
Figure 33. Top assignors for Q4, 2012
Figure 34. Top assignees for Q4, 2012
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 37
Figure 35. Assignor-assignee matrix for Q4, 2012
Notable transactions in Q4, 2012:
● IBM has assigns assets to Activsion Publishing, Mentor Graphics and Citrix Sytem ○ Activision is a video game publisher ○ IBM has a partnership with Mentor Graphics to develop advanced software suite for the
electrical system and wire harness domain for vehicles imore details. ○ IBM has close partnership with Citrix in creating simple and cost effective IT systems imore
details. ● Qualcomm completes the acquisition of Atheros for USD 3.1 Billion on May 2011
In the last quarter of 2012, Atheros assigns 777 patent assets to Qualcomm imore details. ● Google buys around 567 patent assets from Hitachi ● Acacia Research acquires patents from Boston Scientific and Endovascular Technology ia
subsidiary of Boston Scientific.. Boston has assigned their patent filings to Acacia, retaining them as their licensing partner imore details.
● Hon Hai Precision Technologies, through its subsidiary Gold Charm Ltd, acquires LCD patents from NEC imore details.
● Newfrey purchases 283 assets from Spectrum Brands ● RPX Corp acquires over 260 patent assets from Graphics Property Holdings. The patents are
related to 3D graphics rendering and graphics processing used in the display technology of smart phones, tablets PCS and other devices imore details.
● Toyoda has acquired 255 patent assets from Showa Denko related to GaN based LED chips, arising from a joint venture with them imore details. ieven more details.
● Schlumberger acquires patent assets from Smith International. The two companies were merged in August 2010 imore details.
● Ovid Data LLC ian Intellectual Ventures company. acquires 215 patents from Entorian Technologies imore details.. Entorian closed down in November 2012 imore details.
● Cisco acquires 183 patents from Lightwire. Cisco plugs in Lightwire for $271M imore details. ● Merck acquires 190 patent assets from the Konarka Technologies
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 38
● Huntleigh Tech acquires 161 patents from KCI medical which is in the hospital bed business imore details.
● Corning acquires 143 patents from Becton, Dickinson and Company from its Discovery Labware unit imore details.
Top Technologies Transacted in Q4, 2012 The top two technologies transacted in Q4, 2012 are Digital data processing methods [G06F] and
Semiconductor devices [H01L].
Table 11. Top technologies transacted in Q4, 2012 [Top-level CPC sub-class]
Technology Top sub-
class (CPC)
Number of
publications
Number of
transactions
Digital data processing methods G06F 2426 2546
Semiconductor devices H01L 1634 1677
Digital transmission H04L 1306 1428
Preparation of medicines A61K 1155 1221
Data processing systems for various
applications
G06Q 881 916
Prosthetics & implants A61F 829 938
Wireless communication and devices H04M,
H04W
744 834
Diagnosis and surgical devices A61B 723 788
Greenhouse gases emission reduction during
energy generation transmission or distribution
Y02E 578 624
Image/Video transmission H04N 539 561
Top assignors G06F: IBM, Hitachi, Graphics Properties Holdings, Phoenix Tech Ltd, O2Micro.
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 39
Top assignees G06F: Google, Mentor Graphics, Activision Publishing Group, RPX Corp.
Figure 36. Assignor-assignee matrix for Q4 2012 transactions in the Digital Data Processing CPC sub-class [G06F]
Table 12. Top 25 technologies transacted in Q4, 2012 based on CPC classification code (group-level). Figures in
brackets indicate the number of transactions.
Technology CPC Code
Number of
Publications
Number of
Transactions
Assignor Assignee
Implantable prosthetic devices A61F 2/02, A61F 2002/02 635 726 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC i478. ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLCi74.
ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLCi484. LIFEPORT SCIENCES LLCi74.
User interface arrangements G06F 3/00 610 668 HITACHI LTDi232. IBMi62. GRAPHICS PROPERTIES HOLDINGS, INC.i45.
GOOGLEi232. ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.i60. RPX CORPORATIONi46.
Stents A61F 2/82, A61F 2/95, A61F 2002/82, A61F 2002/95, A61L 27/00, A61L 31/00
591 691 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC i390. ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLCi75.
ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLCi396. LIFEPORT SCIENCES LLCi75.
Manufacture/treatment of semiconductor devices
H01L 21/00, H01L 2221/00 487 501 SHOWA DENKOi108. AXCELIS TECH INCi42. NECi35.
TOYODAi108. LAM RESi42. GOLD CHARM LIMITEDi35.
Data processing systems for e-commerce and shopping
G06Q 30/00 468 487 IBMi38. MEDIA PATENTS, S.L.i24. PALISADES TECHNOLOGY LLCi18.
ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.i38. ZARON REMOTE LLCi24. RAKUTEN INCi23.
Light modulation, demodulation, switching & gating
G02F 1/00, G02F 2001/00 419 419 NECi273. LIGHTWIRE LLCi104.
GOLD CHARM LIMITEDi273. CISCO TECH INCi104.
Surgical instruments A61B 17/00, A61B 2017/00, A61B 18/00, A61B 2018/00, A61B 8/00
414 449 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC i57. MICRUS ENOVASCULAR LLCi39.
ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLCi57. CODMAN & SHURTLEFFi39.
Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
A61K 31/00 402 434 ALPHA SYNERGY DEVELOPMENT, INC.i17. OTHERA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.i12.
EYE THERAPIES LLCi17. COLBY PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANYi12.
Information retrieval, database & structures
G06F 17/30 366 380 IBMi52. HITACHIi45. XEROXi16.
GOOGLEi45. ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.i35. INTELi28.
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 40
GRAPHICS PROPERTIES HOLDINGS, INC.i15.
RPX CORPORATIONi20.
Manufacture of multiple devices on a single common substrate
H01L 27/00 357 360 NECi64. LIGHTWIRE LLCi61. KONARKA TECHNOLOGIES INCi57.
GOLD CHARM LIMITEDi64. CISCOi61. MERCK KGAAi57.
Transmission control procedure H04L 29/08 352 370 HITACHI LTDi80. IBMi32. MEDIA PATENTS, S.L.i23. QUALCOMM ATHEROS, INC.i19.
GOOGLEi80. ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.i32. ZARON REMOTE LLCi23. QUALCOMMi19.
Data switching networks H04L 12/00, H04L 45/00, H04L 2012/00
350 404 QUALCOMM ATHEROS, INC.i82. IBMi41. MCDATA CORPi33. HITACHI LTDi27.
QUALCOMMi82. ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.i41. BROCADE COMM SYSTEMS INCi33. GOOGLEi33.
Data processing systems for administration and management
G06Q 10/00 330 341 IBMi72. PALISADES TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.i18.
ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.i63. RAKUTEN INCi20.
Manufacturing of light emitting devices
H01L 33/00, H01L 2933/00 328 328 SHOWA DENKOi245. SUPERNOVA OPTOELECTRONICS CORP.i24. SANYOi23.
TOYODAi245. SEMILEDS OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.i24. FUTURE LIGHT, LLCi23.
Packet switching networks H04L 41/00, H04L 47/00, H04L 49/00, H04L 51/00, H04L 43/00
294 311 HITACHIi44. MCDATA CORPi41. IBMi39. QUALCOMM ATHEROS, INC.i38.
GOOGLEi49. BROCADE COMM SYSTEMS INCi41. QUALCOMMi38. ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.i31.
Physical form of medicines A61K 9/00 273 292 ALNYLAM PHARMACEUTICALS INCi18. ALPHA SYNERGY DEVELOPMENT, INC.i17.
TEKMIRA PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATIONi18. EYE THERAPIES LLCi17.
Network security H04L 63/00, H04L 2209/00, H04L 2463/00
268 302 HITACHIi25. QUALCOMM ATHEROS, INC.i23.
QUALCOMMi37. GOOGLEi25.
Multiple step manufacturing process of semiconductor devices
H01L 29/00, H01L 28/00 266 268 NECi74. SS SC IP, LLCi71. RAMTRON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONi26.
GOLD CHARM LIMITEDi74. POWER INTEGRATIONS INCi71. CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATIONi26.
Renewable energy generation Y02E 10/00 259 289 KONARKA TECHNOLOGIES INCi158. MERCK KGAAi158. Biological analysis G01N 33/50, G01N
2333/00 247 252 PROMETHEUS LABORATORIES
INC.i48. BIOSEEK LLCi24. BECTON DICKINSONi21.
NESTECi48. DISCOVERX CORPi24. CORNING INCi21.
Diagnostic devices A61B 5/00 239 254 SNC HOLDINGS CORP.i33. BOSTON SCIENTIFICi21.
VTQ IP HOLDING CORPORATIONi33. ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLCi21.
Light guides G02B 6/00, G02B 2006/00 238 244 LIGHTWIRE LLCi127. NEC CORPi25.
CISCOi127. GOLD CHARM LIMITEDi25.
Payment architecture and protocols
G06Q 20/00 237 239 FIRETHORN MOBILE, INC.i29. AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATEi25. SOFTBANK BB CORPi15.
QUALCOMMi29. PLATI NETWORKING, LLCi25. INTELLECTUAL VENTURES FUND 80 LLCi15.
Television system hardware H04N 5/00, H04N 9/00, H04N 2209/00
213 216 GRAPHICS PROPERTIES HOLDINGS, INC.i15. HPi11. TRIDENT MICROSYSTEMS LTD.i11.
RPX CORPORATIONi15. LIBRE HOLDINGS, INC.i11. NXPi11.
Television signal transmission H04N 7/00 207 212 TRIDENT MICROSYSTEMS INCi27. DAEWOOi17. IBMi14. GRAPHICS PROPERTIES HOLDINGS, INC.i12.
NXPi27. ZTEi17. ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.i14. RPX CORPORATIONi12.
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 41
Figure 37. Top assignors - Q4, 2012 transactions in the top 25 technologies by CPC class code
Figure 38. Top assignees - Q4, 2012 transactions in the top 25 technologies by CPC class code
Figure 39. Assignor-assignee matrix for Q4, 2012 transactions in the top 25 technologies by CPC class code
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 42
Acacia Research has acquired patents from Boston Scientific in the following technologies:
● Implantable Prosthetic devices ● Stents ● Surgical Instruments ● Diagnostic devices
NEC has acquired patents from Gold Charm Ltd, a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision, in the following
technologies:
● Manufacture/treatment of semiconductor devices ● Light modulation, demodulation, switching & gating ● Manufacture of multiple devices on a single common substrate ● Multiple step manufacturing process of semiconductor devices ● Light Guides
Hitachi has acquired patents from Google related to:
● User interface arrangements ● Transmission control procedure ● Packet Switching Networks ● Information Retrieval, database & Structures ● Data switching networks ● Network Security
University and Research Institution transactions in Q4, 2012 Top universities or contract research institutions [Assignor]: MIT, University of Pennsylvania, Tufts
University, University of California at San Diego.
Top Government funding agencies [Assignee]: National Institute of Health (NIH).
Copyright © 2013, INDUS TechInnovations, All rights reserved.
Patent transaction trends for 2012 43
Figure 40. University and contract research related assignment transfers to Government agencies for Q4, 2012.
These arise from funded research and are usually tagged with a "confirmatory license" in the conveyance text
Top universities or contract research institutions [Assignor]: Batelle Memorial, University of Montreal,
Hiroshima University, Keio University, ETRI, SRI.
Top external assignees: Efield Innovations, Rakuten Inc, University of Tohuku, Korea Electronics.
Figure 41. Assignor-assignee matrix for university transactions to external entities for Q4 2012
Summary From the approximately 100,000 transactions that occurred during 2012, technologies such as Digital data
processing methods, Digital transmission, Ink jet printers and Semiconductor devices seem to have
dominated. Companies such as Google, Facebook, and Zamtec turned out to be the most active in
acquiring patents. There was also a significant amount of funded research carried out. About 4000
transactions occurred out of funding by several US government agencies. Additionally, the segregation of
transaction data across the four quarters of 2012 displays the ebbs and flows of the several technologies
as well as industries through different months of the year.
0
15
30
45
60
4946
3532
24 2319 17 16
2
2
15
2
1
Assignors
US ARMY
US ENERGY
NIH
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Patent transaction trends for 2012 44
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