Patent Issues Prompt Risk-Management Tips to Protect Intellectual Property, Seattle Biz Coach

Feb. 24, 2010 - PRLog -- News headlines about patent controversies involving Xerox vs. Google and Yahoo, and Apple vs. Nokia, have prompted Seattle business-performance consultant Terry Corbell to publish strategies on how to shield intellectual property.

“It’s extraordinary for adversaries such as Google and Yahoo to be on the same side,” observes Seattle management consultant Terry Corbell. “Xerox filed a patent lawsuit naming the two search giants alleging they are violating automatic query and information patents, according to InformationWeek.”

He writes entrepreneurs are well-advised to consider ways to avoid legal entanglements over their inventions and intellectual property, http://www.bizcoachinfo.com/archives/2768.

In one example, Apple vs. Nokia, Mr. Corbell says the U.S. International Trade Commission is investigating.

For an explanation, he turned to patent attorney Adam L.K. Philipp.

“It looks like Apple and Nokia are using their patent portfolios to obtain some leverage from each other,” says Adam L.K. Philipp, founder of the Axios Law firm.  “Generally, two firms of this size may posture, but then settle, especially as their respective patent portfolios are so large.”

Mr. Philipp’s clients  include:  “RealNetworks, Wetpaint, PhotoBucket (formerly Ontela), SEOmoz, Appature, Winshuttle, Kashless, HealthUnity, AirSplat.com, and many more.”

China makes a lot of intellectual property headlines. Is China getting a bad rap?

“China is becoming an intellectual property powerhouse; a bit like a very large high college football player.  Young and inexperienced, but having a lot of potential and with the right seasoning has the ability to go to the NFL,” explains the Seattle attorney.

“Generally I tell my clients that it is not enough to have a business partner or intellectual property in China, you want to give your business partner the tools to use by filing for intellectual property protection in China,” adds Mr. Philipp.

The Biz Coach column, “Risk Management – Lawyer Explains Basics in Protecting Intellectual Property,” includes a basic primer for protecting intellectual property.

As The New York Times referred to him in "Been There... Done That... Here's How", Terry Corbell has more than 30 years experience as a profit professional and business-performance consultant.

As managing member of CMS Associates LLC, http://www.cmsassociatesllc.com, he has provided confidential full-service business solutions for Northwest companies ranging from technology to professional service firms, and for the public sector since 1992.

Especially timely in this economic downturn, he provides a nine-point financial turnaround program, on a pay-for-performance basis, for a small retainer and just one percent of the net-profit increase.

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/terrycorbell

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Biz Coach Terry Corbell is a business-performance consultant and profit professional. As a longtime media columnist, he publishes performance-enhancing strategies at The Biz Coach: http://www.bizcoachinfo.com, Proven Solutions for Maximum Profits.