© 2013 edwards wildman palmer llp & edwards wildman palmer uk llp ip issues in transactions...
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© 2013 Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP & Edwards Wildman Palmer UK LLP
IP Issues in TransactionsF.I.R.E. Series, University of RochesterMay 14, 2013
Ralph A. [email protected]
Examples of corporate transactions that may have IP issues
♦ Licenses
♦ Investments
♦ M & A
♦ Loan Security
♦ Valuation
♦ S-1/10-K Risk Factors
♦ Employee/Consultant Agreements
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Basic IP Law
♦ Patents♦ Covers the idea itself♦ Limited in time but absolute in scope♦ Coverage on a country-by-country basis
♦ Trademarks♦ Identifies the source of the goods or services♦ Unlimited in duration♦ Can be lost if term becomes generic
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Basic IP Law
♦ Copyrights♦ Covers the expression of an idea, not the idea♦ Not limited to national boundaries♦ Life of the author plus 70 years
♦ Trade Secrets or Know How♦ Covers the idea itself♦ Limited by secrecy but can be lost if it loses secrecy♦ Does not cover independent invention or reverse engineering
♦ Domain Names♦ Covers the URL only♦ Has some trademark implications
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Requirements for a Patentable Invention
♦ An invention must be:♦ Patentable Subject Matter♦ Novel♦ Non-Obvious♦ Enabled♦ Description to Meet Written Description Standard♦ Best Mode
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Changes to Patent Law under AIA
♦ Under new Patent Act (March 16, 2013), First Inventor to File, not First to Invent is the basic test♦ Different scope of prior art♦ Grace Period for Inventor’s Disclosure
♦ New Post Grant Review Procedures:♦ Post Grant Review in 1st 9 Months after issuance – all grounds
of invalidity possible♦ Inter Partes review – After PGR – Only based on Patents and
Printed Publications♦ Derivation Proceedings – Did the Named Inventor get the Idea
from Someone Else?♦ Supplemental Examination – Patent Owner method to cure
even Inequitable Conduct – Becomes Ex Parte Reexamination
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IP Due Diligence Issues for any Transaction
♦ What type of IP exists?
♦ What is status of existing IP?
♦ Does it cover the product or process being sold or contemplated?
♦ Any additional IP available?
♦ What is licensed in and out?
♦ What is the competitive landscape?
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What is the Status of Current IP
♦ Are there patents that cover methods or products being used by the company?
♦ Does the IP cover anything that is being sold or licensed out?
♦ Are there patents on the products or methods?
♦ Are there trademarks covering anything sold?
♦ Where is the IP filed and where is it being used?
♦ What is issued versus pending?
♦ Are additional foreign (or US) applications possible?
♦ What is the duration of IP remaining?
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Is the IP Protection Sufficient?
♦ Does the IP cover critical products or processes sufficient to protect the company against competitors?
♦ Does the IP provide a picket fence or just single product protection?
♦ How strong are any trademarks or copyrights?
♦ Is the IP overbroad; that is, is it broad without more limited claims?
♦ Does the IP somehow provide differentiation from competitors?
♦ Can the IP be made stronger?
♦ Has lifecycle management been considered and planned for?
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Is Ownership of the IP Correct?
♦ Is the IP owned by proper entity?
♦ Have the inventors signed all necessary documents?
♦ Has anyone claimed that the inventorship is incorrect?
♦ Are there any licenses outstanding to third parties?
♦ Are there any licenses that expired and if so, are there any provisions that last past expiration?
♦ If the IP includes ex-US rights, have all owners agreed to any license?
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Licensed-In Technology Problems
♦ Are the rights in any licensed-in technology sufficient to cover the current (or future) products?
♦ What are the scope of the licenses?
♦ Were any licenses limited to research and if so, is it defined?
♦ Are the licenses exclusive or nonexclusive?
♦ How many different licenses are used on a product or process that would generate royalties (and who will claim them)?
♦ Are there viable anti-stacking provisions?
♦ Are these combination products or are the methods unique?
More Problems with Licenses
♦ Are there change of control clauses and how do they operate?
♦ What is the difference between a change of control clause and an assignment?
♦ Is there a restriction on assignment?♦ Can the license be transferred?♦ What is required to effectuate the transfer?♦ Difference between operation of law and assignment
♦ Are there termination clauses that are onerous?
♦ Are there indemnity clauses that are a problem?
♦ Are there arbitration or venue clauses that are problematic?
Additional IP Available?
♦ Are there pending applications that can support additional claims?
♦ Are continuations or divisionals possible?
♦ Is there any additional technology that can (or should) be patented?
♦ Is the scope of filing geographically commensurate with the distribution of the products?
♦ Are the trademarks registered where necessary?
♦ Have the trade secrets/know-how been properly protected?
Competition Issues
♦ Who are competitors in the field?
♦ What are the competitive technologies?
♦ Does the IP provide specific advantages?
♦ Will the IP protect potential market share?
♦ If the technology is licensed in, are the licenses sufficiently exclusive to keep out competitors?
♦ Are there possible antitrust issues from the licenses; e.g., tying or Sherman §or 2 issues?
Freedom To Operate
♦ How important is IP to the deal?
♦ Is the pertinent IP in the form of patents, trademarks or copyrights?
♦ Is a Freedom to Operate study valuable in terms of cost?
♦ Will using the technology infringe any rights of others?
♦ Are others using related technology who might have blocking IP issued or pending?
♦ Are licenses available?
Duration of IP
♦ When does the critical IP expire (or does it expire)?
♦ Is the additional IP sufficient for differentiation?
♦ Do trade secrets/know-how provide sufficient coverage?
♦ Can any of the IP be extended?
♦ Are there ways to practice Life Cycle Management that are worth exploring?
Areas to Investigate for Life Cycle Management
♦ Methods of use
♦ Manufacturing processes
♦ Delivery methods and carriers
♦ Formulations
♦ Dosing
Any FDA/Governmental Filings that have been made and IP Effect?
♦ Is this technology subject to Patent Term Extension?
♦ Is a Patent Term Extension still available?
♦ If so, has a Patent Term Extension been granted?
♦ What product or process should be the basis of the extension?
♦ Is there some form of exclusivity available?
♦ NCE, NFE, Orphan
M & A/Investment Specific Issues
♦ Do the IP representations and warranties make sense?
♦ What reps and warranties have knowledge qualifiers?♦ Ownership?♦ Validity?♦ Noninfringement?
♦ What is the effect of the Knowledge qualifier?
♦ Are all liens being released?
♦ Who will own IP?
♦ Change of control clauses?
S-1/10-K Issues
♦ Is the description of the IP accurate?
♦ Are the risk factors correct in terms of competitors and IP?
♦ Are there known threats that must be discussed?
♦ Is the description of any technology accurate?
♦ Have all liens on IP been released and recorded properly?
Consultant and Employee Contracts
♦ Are there agreements on who owns any IP generated during employment or consulting?♦ Is the scope of the employment/consulting well defined?♦ Are there work-made-for-hire issues?
♦ Scope of employment issues♦ Consultants working for others♦ Employees not hired to invent
♦ Special work made for hire issues on copyright
♦ Duration of agreement and is there a conflict with another job?
♦ Inventions made before the agreement
IP Due Diligence Checklist
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IP Due Diligence Checklist continued
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IP Due Diligence Checklist continued
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