A patent law firm has developed a new web-based software program called “ClaimBot” that rapidly sorts, ranks and analyzes patent claims. Four years in the making by Minneapolis-based Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A., the ClaimBot system is now being marketed by Lucid Patent (www.lucidpatent.com). The system does not replace the need for patent experts, but it eliminates many mundane tasks tied to portfolio analysis. The company touts four primary benefits for the software, namely that it:

• frees up staff time to understand the claims coverage of their patents;
• automates the fifteen most common IP workflows;
• identifies potential revenue streams from an IP portfolio;
• allows for cross-departmental collaboration and decision-making.

The ClaimBot system’s mapping and charting process lets patent holders analyze relevant patent claims and, literally, puts them up on the wall, allowing users to view many patents at once and see what they have in common or what’s missing. “In this litigation-heavy environment, understanding patent claims coverage can protect companies from competitors and patent enforcers. The ClaimBot system can also assist companies or individuals who are interested in buying a patent portfolio. It lets them quickly see what’s special — or not special — about a portfolio,” the company says. The system can also help organizations identify those who might benefit from licensing their technologies, the firm adds. Noting the need for cost-consciousness during the recession, the developers note that “because the ClaimBot system reduces attorney hours spent on mapping and charting, it couldn’t come along at a better time as companies reduce expenses amid this sluggish economy.”

Go to: World Intellectual Property Review Magazine, Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, and Lucid Patent

Posted January 14th, 2009 under Tech Transfer

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