1. Internally-focused IP benchmarking

This type of benchmarking is performed to evaluate the level of protection offered by your IP portfolio. You must map your patents against your current products and technologies to check if their unique aspects are well protected. For any unique technology, you must protect your core inventive step. Then you need to verify if surrounding or derivative technologies related to it are also protected. Basically, this helps verify if you have created a robust IP fence around your inventions. During the process, you may find that some patents are no longer directly related to your current products or focus areas. Additionally, a portfolio acquired via M & A or technology acquisition can also cause redundancies that must be identified.

Therefore, non-core patents should be reviewed in more detail by subject matter experts before you decide to abandon or sell/license them. By doing this, you save on maintenance costs and sustain a high-quality portfolio.