Subscribe for compact, in-depth IP intelligence: trends, cases, and research curated by the team of the IP Business Academy and the IPBA Connect Platform. Get practical playbooks for positioning, LinkedIn, and business development. Learn from leading experts in the context of business models and R&D. Join the IPBA Connect community and turn IP knowledge into results — with dIPlex, live formats, IPBA Connect, and white papers as your launchpad.

Here you can find the latest issues in the archive and also subscribe. A fresh read with all important IP Management content will be sent to the subscribers every second Thursday at 7:00 (CET), so that they can start the day informed.

The next newsletter will cover the following topics:

Strategic choices at the UPC

Currently, companies are trying to navigate the new strategic options at the UPC, especially in high stakes cases such as the one between ZTE and Samsung. The case is part of a greater conflict between both parties involving patent infringement and FRAND disputes at multiple venues. Nevertheless, the preliminary opinion of the court referred to the Brussels Regulation in its move to reject the FRAND-related application, which was comparable to a previous application at another court.

Breaking the limits of quantum technology

Quantum technology is a key enabler for progress in many areas, but its applicability is still limited due to issues with running networks of quantum computers. Cisco now claims to be able to break this limitation with its Quantum Switch technology. This technology might be foundational for making cooperation in the quantum space possible, so that its protection serves as a key asset for orchestrating the whole quantum ecosystem.

Battery storage as a driver of green tech

A key driver for enabling the green transformation, e.g. through the introduction of long-distance electric vehicles or the smart grid, is the availability of novel energy storage technologies. Recently, Chinese technology company CATL is planning to take the opportunity of receiving $5 billion in fresh funding to support the scaling of its battery business. This funding shows how promising the green technology market is at the time, but also indicates that a solid patent portfolio is required to attract investors.

Trade secret enforcement gets serious

With growing global tensions and fiercer competition in critical industry sectors, countries are intensifying their support for the protection of trade secrets. This even leads to long prison sentences, such as in a current case against employees of Tokyo Electron in Taiwan. To avoid this type of serious IP theft, companies need to come up with new and stronger trade secret management frameworks.

OFB Trend Radar

The Trend Radar of the Open Foresight Program is a structured foresight tool that identifies and visualizes emerging developments shaping corporate IP management. It is created as a result of a study among in-house IP experts, in which researchers systematically collect feedback, weight its relevance, and synthesize it into key trend areas.

Its purpose is not prediction, but orientation: helping organizations understand complex changes, prioritize what matters, and align IP strategies with evolving technological, geopolitical, and business environments. By translating diverse insights into a clear framework, the Trend Radar enables more informed, forward-looking decision-making in corporate IP management.

Strategic voice: speaking with impact without becoming a spokesperson

The article argues that IP experts need a strategic voice without sounding promotional. Visibility is not about posting more, but about making one’s thinking recognisable. Clients want orientation: how an expert frames risks, interprets developments and connects legal or technical issues to business decisions. A strong voice does not mean provocation; it means a consistent interpretive lens. This requires a defined field of relevance, recurring themes and clear framing. Individual experts can show judgement in ways institutional communication cannot. The goal is to communicate rigorously, but more clearly and memorably, so expertise becomes trustworthy before a mandate exists.

Smart Licensing Models: Why Strong IP Deals Depend on Structure, Not Templates

The article argues that strong IP licensing depends on deal structure, not reused templates. Licensing agreements define control, risk allocation, revenue flows and scalability. Different assets, markets and business models require different clauses, especially around grant of rights, field of use, duration, territory, exclusivity and future developments. The article also stresses that internal group licensing matters for governance, tax and compliance. Smart licensing therefore starts with commercial objectives before drafting legal text. Well-designed structures align ownership, operational use and monetization, while poor templates can create disputes, uncertainty and avoidable regulatory or tax exposure.

Strategies for Patent Circumvention

This podcast episode explains patent circumvention as a structured innovation method rather than a purely legal defence. It describes how companies can analyse existing patents, identify claim elements that can be avoided or redesigned, and use TRIZ-based problem-solving to generate alternative technical solutions. The approach combines patent analysis, engineering creativity, feasibility checks and legal validation. By doing so, companies can reduce infringement risks while still developing competitive products. The episode shows that patent thickets are not only barriers, but can also reveal design opportunities, differentiation paths and strategic openings for market entry.

The Humanoid Robot Race: Why the Real IP Battle Is About Learning Machines

The humanoid robotics race is less about individual machines than about controlling scalable learning systems. Competitive advantage will come from combining patents, trade secrets, data, AI models, deployment know-how, manufacturing scale and ecosystem control. IP strategy therefore becomes a strategic architecture for owning the next automation learning curve.