Edison in the Boardroom: How Leading Companies Realize Value from Their Intellectual Assets

Review
"Everyone who manages IP for a company, a university, or a federal agency, should look at this handbook and the Web site associated with it." (The Federal Lawyer, Nov/Dec 2001)


Review
"Everyone who manages IP for a company, a university, or a federal agency, should look at this handbook and the Web site associated with it." (The Federal Lawyer, Nov/Dec 2001)


Review
"A beacon of light for organizations trying to make intellectual property a dynamic property rather than a fixed legal asset." —Business Finance Magazine, November 2001


Book Description
Julie L. Davis and Suzanne Harrison

Today's corporations are always on the lookout for exciting new and innovative ideas that can be used to generate revenue. Up until recently, this meant taking these ideas and turning them into products or services, which could then be sold for profit. But today, a unique new concept is revolutionizing the way companies are getting value from ideas. Instead of incorporating them into products or services, today's innovations may be bartered, licensed or sold in the "idea" stage for tremendous amounts of money. For example, IBM currently receives well over $1 billion in revenue every year from licensing its intellectual property, unrelated to the manufacture of a single product. Today more and more companies are adopting this idea of turning their legal departments, where intellectual property is housed, from cost centers into profit centers.

Edison in the Boardroom: How Leading Companies Realize Value from Their Intellectual Assets takes an in-depth look at the revolutionary concept of Intellectual asset management (IAM). IAM is changing the way companies all over the world are doing business. In their careers as business consultants, the authors have been privileged to meet individuals who were clearly ahead of their time when it came to realizing value from their companies' innovations. Based on their interactions with the ICM Gathering--an international group of companies who meet several times a year to create, define and benchmark best practices in the area of IAM--the authors have compiled a wealth of knowledge and successful stories that illustrate how far businesses have come in their ability to leverage and monetize their intellectual assets.

Incorporating stories and teachings from some of the most successful companies in the worlds -- such as Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Procter & Gamble, Rockwell, Dow, Ford and many others -- the authors have made an exhaustive study of IAM and its implications for today's businesses. They have culled a hierarchy of best practices that today's companies can integrate into their own business philosophies to gain the best return from their intellectual assets.


Book Info
A collection of testimonials from leading companies on how they were able to realize value from their intellectual assets. Companies featured include Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, IBM, SC Johnson, Sprint, and Hewlett-Packard.


From the Publisher
"A beacon of light for organizations trying to make intellectual property a dynamic property rather than a fixed legal asset." —Business Finance Magazine, November 2001


From the Inside Flap
Today’s corporations are always on the lookout for exciting new and innovative ideas that can be used to generate revenue. Up until recently, this meant taking these ideas and turning them into products or services, which could then be sold for profit. But today, a unique new concept is revolutionizing the way companies are getting value from ideas. Instead of incorporating them into products or services, today’s innovations may be bartered, licensed, or sold in the "idea" stage for tremendous amounts of money. For example, IBM currently receives well over $1 billion in revenue every year from licensing its intellectual property, unrelated to the manufacture of a single product. Today more and more companies are adopting this idea of turning their legal departments, where intellectual property is housed, from cost centers into profit centers. Edison in the Boardroom: How Leading Companies Realize Value From Their Intellectual Assets takes an in-depth look at the revolutionary concept of intellectual asset management (IAM). IAM is changing the way companies all over the world are doing business. In their careers as business consultants, the authors have been privileged to meet individuals who were clearly ahead of their time when it came to realizing value from their companies’ innovations. Based on their interactions with the ICM Gathering–an international group of companies who meet several times a year to create, define, and benchmark best practices in the area of IAM–the authors have compiled a wealth of knowledge and success stories that illustrate how far businesses have come in their ability to leverage and monetize their intellectual assets. Incorporating stories and teachings from some of the most successful companies in the world–such as Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Procter & Gamble, Rockwell, Dow, Ford, and many others–the authors have made an exhaustive study of IAM and its implications for today’s businesses. They have culled a hierarchy of best practices that today’s companies can integrate into their own business philosophies to gain the best return from their intellectual assets.


Back Cover Copy
"Edison in the Boardroom offers the reader something that is hard to find-a clear perspective and roadmap that shows how patent assets fit on the corporate landscape. The authors develop a unique five-level hierarchy of asset management and take us on a seamless trip from start to finish. Along the way, there are candid revelations of viewpoints and techniques, punctuated by anecdotes, practical examples and testimonials gathered from knowledgeable professionals in industry. Here is a resource that business executives can consult time and again to navigate in the world of patents."--Stephen P. Fox, Associate General Counsel and Director, Intellectual Property, Hewlett-Packard Company

"Davis and Harrison masterfully synthesize first-hand accounts into practical advice for the intellectual asset manager. In an informative and easy style, they bridge the gap between best practices in an emerging field and the needs of managers for real-world solutions. Their solid advice has the capacity to change profoundly the way companies manage their intangibles for increased shareholder value. It's a must-read for everyone interested in increasing returns from intellectual assets." --Jim O'Shaughnessy, VP & Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, Rockwell

"Edison in the Boardroom reveals the winning strategies employed by some of today's biggest companies in maximizing the value of their intellectual property. Well written and extremely readable." --Jerry Rosenthal, Vice President, Intellectual Property & Licensing, IBM

"Edison in the Boardroom is an excellent source book for the beginner in extracting value from intellectual property. Additionally, it is a valuable resource for those who consider themselves as experienced in the field. I know that I learned several new best practices that I plan to apply to my business." --Henry Fradkin, Director, Technology Commercialization, Ford Global Technologies, Inc.

"The Value Hierarchy is clearly articulated in Edison and this provides a relevant guide for corporations to create value from their unique intangibles." --Sharon Oriel, Director, Global Intellectual Asset & Capital Tech Center, The Dow Chemical Company

"Lots of books spout theory and the philosophy of Intellectual Asset Management. What Davis and Harrison provide in Edison in the Boardroom is frankly much more valuable--a practical and 'real world vetted' guide to getting started and building a viable value extraction business!"--Jeff Weedman, Vice President of External Business Development and Corporate Licensing, Procter & Gamble


About the Author
JULIE L. DAVIS (Chicago, IL) is the Worldwide Co-Managing Partner of Andersen's intellectual asset consulting practice.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Today's corporations are always on the lookout for exciting new and innovative ideas that can be used to generate revenue. Up until recently, this meant taking these ideas and turning them into products or services, which could then be sold for profit. But today, a unique new concept is revolutionizing the way companies are getting value from ideas. Instead of incorporating them into products or services, today's innovations may be bartered, licensed, or sold in the "idea" stage for tremendous amounts of money. For example, IBM currently receives well over $1 billion in revenue every year from licensing its intellectual property, unrelated to the manufacture of a single product. Today more and more companies are adopting this idea of turning their legal departments, where intellectual property is housed, from cost centers into profit centers.

Edison in the Boardroom: How Leading Companies Realize Value from Their Intellectual Assets takes an in-depth look at the revolutionary concept of intellectual asset management (IAM). IAM is changing the way companies all over the world are doing business. In their careers as business consultants, the authors have been privileged to meet individuals who were clearly ahead of their time when it came to realizing value from their companies' innovations. Based on their interactions with the ICM Gathering -- an international group of companies who meet several times a year to create, define, and benchmark best practices in the area of IAM -- the authors have compiled a wealth of knowledge and success stories that illustrate how far businesses have come in their ability to leverage and monetize their intellectual assets.

Incorporating stories and teachings from some of the most successful companies in the world -- such as Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Procter & Gamble, Rockwell, Dow, Ford, and many others -- the authors have made an exhaustive study of IAM and its implications for today's businesses. They have culled a hierarchy of best practices that today's companies can integrate into their own business philosophies to gain the best return from their intellectual assets.

SYNOPSIS

Presents an easy-to-understand and implementable approach to identifying and managing intangible corporate assets for increased shareholder value.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Stephen Fox

Edison in the Boardroom offers the reader something that is hard to find-a clear perspective and roadmap that shows how patent assets fit on the corporate landscape. The authors develop a unique five-level hierarchy of asset management and take us on a seamless trip from start to finish. Along the way, there are candid revelations of viewpoints and techniques, punctuated by anecdotes, practical examples and testimonials gathered from knowledgeable professionals in industry. Here is a resource that business executives can consult time and again to navigate in the world of patents. — Stephen P. Fox, Associate General Counsel and Director, Intellectual Property, Hewlett-Packard Company

Davis and Harrison masterfully synthesize first-hand accounts into practical advice for the intellectual asset manager. In an informative and easy style, they bridge the gap between best practices in an emerging field and the needs of managers for real-world solutions. Their solid advice has the capacity to change profoundly the way companies manage their intangibles for increased shareholder value. It's a must-read for everyone interested in increasing returns from intellectual assets. — Jim O'Shaughnessy, VP & Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, Rockwell

Edison in the Boardroom reveals the winning strategies employed by some of today's biggest companies in maximizing the value of their intellectual property. Well written and extremely readable.  — Jerry Rosenthal, Vice President, Intellectual Property & Licensing, IBM

Edison in the Boardroom is an excellent source book for the beginner in extracting value from intellectual property. Additionally, it is a valuable resource for those who consider themselves as experienced in the field. I know that I learned several new best practices that I plan to apply to my business.
— Henry Fradkin, Director, Technology Commercialization, Ford Global Technologies, Inc.  — Henry Fradkin

The Value Hierarchy is clearly articulated in Edison and this provides a relevant guide for corporations to create value from their unique intangibles.  — Sharon Oriel, Director, Global Intellectual Asset & Capital Tech Center, The Dow Chemical Company

Lots of books spout theory and the philosophy of Intellectual Asset Management. What Davis and Harrison provide in Edison in the Boardroom is frankly much more valuable—a practical and 'real world vetted' guide to getting started and building a viable value extraction business!  — Jeff Weedman, Vice President of External Business Development and Corporate Licensing, Procter & Gamble

AUTHOR DESCRIPTION

Julie L. Davis is Comanaging Partner of Andersen's Intellectual Asset Management Practice.