John: Emily, what if someone steals my ideas?
Emily: Have you heard of Goldcorp, a gold-mining company in Canada?
John: No. What’s their story?
Emily: Goldcorp faced a challenge with diminishing yields from its mines and uncertainty
about where to find more gold. Instead of relying solely on their traditional geologists, the CEO took an incredibly bold step. They decided to share all their
geological data with the world, inviting outsiders to help with the exploration
process.
John: Okay. And?
Emily: A diverse group of outsiders, including computer scientists and mathematicians,
along with outside geologists, jumped at the opportunity to contribute. They analyzed the data and proposed numerous new places to dig for gold—many of which the in-house staff hadn’t even considered.
John: That’s incredible! So, this actually helped them discover more gold?
Emily: Exactly! The company went from being worth $100 million to an astounding $9 billion in just a few years. By embracing open innovation and involving a broader pool of talents, they unlocked the potential of their geological data and made groundbreaking discoveries.
John: So, you’re saying sharing ideas and collaborating with outsiders can lead to unexpected and transformative results.
Emily: Precisely! It’s a testament to the power of open collaboration and the collective wisdom of diverse minds. This approach can be applied not only in the mining industry but also in various other sectors, fostering innovation and propelling companies to new heights.
John: I can see how sharing ideas can lead to valuable insights and innovations.
Emily: Absolutely, John! Embracing open innovation and sharing knowledge can be a game-changer for businesses. It encourages fresh perspectives and empowers the collective intelligence to tackle complex challenges.
John: I hear you Emily, but this was about collaboration. That’s the ideal scenario. The world I live in is about competition. And you still have not answered my question – people would simply steal my idea as soon as it gets public. I don’t see how this would help me.
Emily: You are right, but only partly. You do not know the whole picture. As an IP analyst, I deal with such situations every day. Let me tell you – getting a patent is like putting on a shield on your idea so that no one can break in. If your idea is good enough, and you’ve patented it, no one can copy it without your permission, and it would be difficult to work around it as well.
John: What do you mean. And as an ‘IP analyst’ where do you guys fit in this whole thing?
Emily: I help people safeguard their inventions and ensure they get the credit and protection
they deserve.
John: How?
Emily: I’ve been recently approached by a big tech company, who claims that Samsung has
copied their technology and wants billions in compensation.
John: Billions? How can you help them?
Emily: These two companies are like two rival teams in a court of law, battling over
intellectual property.
John: And, what role do you play in this legal game?
Emily: I would be the technical referee or expert. Samsung’s lawyer knows the law inside
out, just like big-tech’s lawyer. But Samsung’s lawyer needs someone who understands the intricate technical aspects to build a strong defense. That’s where I come in.
John: Ah, I get it. You’re like the coach who helps the lawyer understand the technical
side of things. But how does that affect the outcome of the case?
Emily: Exactly! My job is to dive into the technical details, review prior art, patents, and technical literature to provide evidence that the technology big-tech claims to have invented already existed. By presenting this evidence, we aim to disprove big-tech’s claims and turn the case in Samsung’s favor.
John: Interesting. But what is prior-art?
Emily: You’re quite perceptive. Here, look at this, have you played Monopoly?
contd…..
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