CambridgeIP’s experience has shed light on multiple client needs that can be met through the use of patent-based intelligence. The set of anonymised case studies below illustrate some recurring client needs and solutions we have developed to meet these.

1. Case studies of previous client engagements
January 2010
Quentin Tannock & Ilian Iliev
Directors, CambridgeIP
Introduction
CambridgeIP’s experience has shed light on multiple client needs that can be met through the
use of patent-based intelligence. The set of anonymised case studies below illustrate some
recurring client needs and solutions we have developed to meet these.
We have found that clients are often surprised at the range of high-grade intelligence that can
be rapidly extracted from patent data by CambridgeIP: as a result meeting core business
needs at a fraction of the cost of time and resources. In addition, our services address the
traditional IP needs of technology firms, such as assisting in the performance of freedom to
operate and patentability analyses.
Feel free to call us to discuss your company’s needs, so we can together build a cost-effective
and innovative solution using patent-based intelligence.
Table of Contents
About CambridgeIP.............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Case study #1 – VC-backed Technology Company: IP Landscape for Hiring Round and
Stakeholder Communication .............................................................................................. 3
Case study #2 – Major Technology Consultancy Practice: Patent Licensing and Acquisition
Strategy for a Fortune 100 Corporation .............................................................................. 4
Case study #3 – Individual Inventor: Cost Effective Support for Freedom to Operate Analysis
and Patent Drafting .......................................................................................................... 5
Case study #4 – Blue Chip R&D Manager: R&D Strategy Development ................................. 6
Case study #5 – University Spin-off: Competitor Strategy Analysis using Patent-based
Intelligence ...................................................................................................................... 7
Case study #6 – Technology Start-up: Meeting a Tight Deadline for Patent Application ......... 8
Getting in touch................................................................................................................ 9

2. About CambridgeIP
CambridgeIP (Cambridge Intellectual Property Ltd) is a provider of
business intelligence, technology mapping, technology market research,
technology evaluation, IP strategy and innovation policy services and
training to private and public organisations in high-technology sectors.
The company’s rigorous methodology and supporting systems enable the
gathering and analysis of highly complex science literature datasets with
consistently superior quality and delivery times. Benefits are delivered
with considerable efficiency when compared to traditional approaches.
Working with high-quality datasets allows us to provide high-grade
analytics (some of which are an industry-first) in support of strategic
decision-making by our clients in the IP strategy and R&D strategy fields,
and in business strategy more broadly.
Uses of CambridgeIP’s work include: freedom to operate and patentability,
industry-wide patent landscaping, competitor mapping and analysis,
support for in-licensing and acquisition strategy development, business
planning and venture fund raising.
CambridgeIP has designed many of its outputs to be easily understood by
non-technical executives (i.e. ‘CxO compatible’), and to be distributed
through different media channels. CambridgeIP is not a law firm, nor does
it offer legal advice.
CambridgeIP has worked with some of the largest global companies to
assist with their R&D and business development strategy formulation.
Headquartered in Cambridge UK, and with offices in London, UK.
CambridgeIP has a team of 14 people, and representatives in Boston,
Houston and Geneva.
There is more information about CambridgeIP and its capabilities on
www.CambridgeIP.com

3. Case study #1 – VC-backed Technology Company: IP
Landscape for Hiring Round and Stakeholder
Communication
A VC-backed client working in the defence industry requested an IP Landscape report. The
company’s management already had a sound understanding of their patent landscape. They
sought our help to organise the data they had gathered on potentially competitive patents
and to mine this information to identify the most relevant patents and identify key experts for
hiring purposes. In addition, the client would use the IP Landscape report to communicate to
investors how the firm’s IP strategy relates to their technology space. Using our
TechBoundary we redefined the client’s technology space, and so identified other previously
unknown patent clusters. The IP Landscape report identified industry players new to the client
and fresh industry segments where their patent portfolio coverage could be extended. We
used the patent data to generate a list of key experts in the field, identifying their overlapping
relationships (illustrated in the inventor network map).
The client used the IP Landscape report in investor presentations leading up to a successful
2nd founding round....One year later the client requested an IP Landscape to assist their
strategic planning for entry into a new area of application of the company’s core technology.
The inventor network map helps users identify who the key experts in a field are, what other
inventors and organisations they have worked with in the past. The tool has been used by
past clients to identify collaboration and hiring opportunities, and to understand the key
relationships in an industry.

4. Case study #2 – Major Technology Consultancy Practice:
Patent Licensing and Acquisition Strategy for a Fortune
100 Corporation
A leading UK Technology Consultancy was approached by a Fortune 100 company to identify
acquisition and patent licensing opportunities in a major medical instrumentation area. The
project brief was intentionally vague: focusing on user benefits, leaving the question of
technology open-ended. The Consultancy faced a tight timeline in which to develop a patent
map of the field and make recommendations. CambridgeIP embedded an executive with the
client to ensure rapid implementation of feedback.
Using CambridgeIP’s TechBoundary method we identified 12 distinct technology spaces: with
over 15,000 patents. The Consultancy selected 4 technology spaces for which a patent map
and IP Landscape report would be produced. The resulting patent maps provided the
Consultant with a wealth of analysis and insight such as: inventor network maps; shortlist of
companies, universities and inventors in each patent map; analysis of industrial applications
and overlaps between the 4 patent maps; and a list of the most influential patents in the
space. In addition, CambridgeIP also supplied the full patent datasets of over 8,000 patents.
The Consultancy used our research to conduct expert-based analysis and make acquisition
and patent licensing recommendations to the Multinational. The Consultancy partner who led
the project will be using the project outcomes internally as a Case Study to educate other
project leaders.
The figure below illustrates the iterative process we followed in generating the patent maps
and IP Landscape.

5. Case study #3 – Individual Inventor: Cost Effective
Support for Freedom to Operate Analysis and Patent
Drafting
A world-leading surgeon approached CambridgeIP. The client was at the point of drafting a
patent for a new surgical device. He needed to identify potential conflicting patents with his
inventions, in order to avoid patent infringement. In addition, he sought to investigate
patented materials and methods used by other surgical device applications.
Our IP Landscape report helped the client identify ‘white space’ within which to protect his
invention, and patent he could potentially infringe upon. Several complimentary fields,
including the use of specific materials in a surgical area, were also identified. The client also
used our IP Landscape findings as content for a business plan… A year and a half later the
client approached us to update the IP Landscape and help him develop a patent licensing
strategy.
The figure below shows some of the patent-based analysis clients get as standard feature of
their IP Landscape report: in return for 2-3 hours of their time.

6. Case study #4 – Blue Chip R&D Manager: R&D Strategy
Development
The R&D manager of a Fortune 100 Corporation working in the defence and homeland
security industry approached us for an IP Landscape of a new growth area. The client had a
deep understanding of her sector. However, prior to structuring its R&D approach and
commitment to investment, she wanted to develop a deeper and independent understanding
of the field: key actors, relationships, levels of activity, key patents. The client did not
approach Corporate Counsel, whose resources were stretched by other activities.
We spent 2 hours setting up the project using our TechBoundary method. The resulting IP
Landscape report helped deepen the client’s knowledge of the industry’s patent map,
competitor activity, leading experts and technology migration trends. The IP Landscape report
accelerated the client’s business development of this area.
The patent-based Technology Evolution Map helps R&D managers to identify new areas of
growth where they may consider entry: by showing how a core technology’s application
evolves over time.

7. Case study #5 – University Spin-off: Competitor Strategy
Analysis using Patent-based Intelligence
A top UK University spin-out active in the Renewable Energy field approached us for an IP
Landscape report. The client was backed by a major UK government funding organisation.
The CEO of the company required deep intelligence about industry incumbents’ R&D strategy.
The client also needed independent analysis of the industry’s patent landscape for use in
technology licensing negotiations and structuring a strategic partnership.
We performed an IP Landscape report for two technology areas relevant to the client’s
technology. The resulting patent-based intelligence was used in negotiations by our client.
The client felt that the findings on competitors’ patenting activity helped secure a go-ahead
for a joint venture with a major industry player: “The strategic partner’s reaction to the
report’s findings was startling: immediately inviting us to their HQ to meet with their Head of
Development to finalize an agreement towards jointly developing a product.” The report has
also been used by the client when applying for participation Framework 7 programs, by
demonstrating the client’s deep knowledge of the industry’s patenting trends.
The example below shows how patent data can be used to analyse the R&D strategy of
competitors, and to develop licensing strategy. The findings suggest that Company 7 is
aggressively expanding into the client’s field: it has the highest growth rate of patenting
activity. In turn Company 2 is most dependent on this field for its strategic success: 100% of
its patents are in the field of focus. Such strategic insights can help you structure your
licensing negotiation strategy: who should you approach first, who need your technology
most, which individuals are key experts.

8. Case study #6 – Technology Start-up: Meeting a Tight
Deadline for Patent Application
Our client needed a freedom to operate analysis prior to submitting a PCT patent application.
The deadline was in 10 days. An alternative patent search solution would take 5-10 days to
complete: with limited information on the search methodology and no opportunity for
feedback. CambridgeIP was able to provide a 72 hours turnaround, providing not only the
information required for the client’s freedom-to-operate analysis, but the wealth of
strategically important analytics that come standard in our IP Landscape report.
Using our TechBoundary methodology we delineated the client’s technology space, whilst he
was on a plane from the UK to East Asia. After a feedback loop requested by the client, we
delivered the results of our IP Landscape report. Using our Patent Ranking tool the client
undertook a freedom to operate analysis.
The analytics from the IP Landscape Report helped the client’s lawyer draft a more focused
patent application. For instance:
o Our dataset of expired patents and most frequently cited patents provided information
on patents that may be integrated in the patent application’s prior art section
o A list of IPC (International Patent Classification) codes identified key industrial
applications that may be included in the patent draft
The report was delivered on time, at a low cost, enabling the client to meet a tight deadline.
In addition, the client identified little known areas of application of his technology, and
improved his understanding of who the key inventors and assignees in the space.
The figure below shows our standard production process for an IP Landscape Report, which
usually takes as little 5-7 days. However in urgent cases we can do a 72 hour turnaround.

9. Getting in touch
We hope that the set of case studies discussed has helped you identify a solution to your
needs.
Feel free to call us to discuss your requirements, or to arrange a meeting at our offices in
Cambridge, London or your offices in the UK.
Ilian Iliev Quentin Tannock
Ilian.Iliev@CambridgeIP.com Quentin.Tannock@CambridgeIP.com
(GSM) +44 77 863 73965 (GSM) +44 77 8621 0305