IBM Establishes Worldwide Patent Policy to Promote Innovation

IBM Establishes Worldwide Patent Policy to Promote Innovation

Inspired by a two-month, online forum involving dozens of experts, IBM (NYSE: IBM) today formalized a new, groundbreaking corporate policy governing the creation and management of patents. The worldwide policy, built on IBM’s long-standing practices of high quality patents and transparency of ownership, is designed to foster integrity, a healthier environment for innovation, and mutual respect for intellectual property rights. IBM encouraged others in the patent community to adopt similar policies and practices, more stringent than currently required by law.

“The centerpiece of this policy, and our actions to support it, is based on the principles that patent quality is a responsibility of the applicant,” said Dr. John E. Kelly III, IBM senior vice president for Technology and Intellectual Property. “These principles are as relevant in emerging regions of the world as they are in more mature economies. IBM is holding itself to a higher standard than any law requires because it’s urgent that patent quality is improved, to both stimulate innovation and provide greater clarity for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.”

The impetus to share this policy and to encourage an open discourse on best practices for patent holders was sparked by a two-month online forum facilitated by IBM (please see below for more detail). The forum brought together dozens of the world’s most prominent intellectual property experts from the fields of government, academia and economics. IBM used wiki technology to enable the participants to debate and suggest solutions for pressing intellectual property issues.

“As advances in information technology and basic science transform the nature of innovation and increase the relative value of intellectual property, it is crucial that we modernize the systems for creating and protecting those assets,” said Ronald Mann, University of Texas School of Law, and one of the wiki participants. “Until that time, having the community work together to adhere to a set of principles that sets a higher standard for behavior is even more important.”

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