Google today has started a program for startups to gain two non-organic patent families from Google, as well as the opportunity buy more patents from the company at some point down the line. To be eligible however, the interested startup must also join the LOT Network, which includes companies like Dropbox and Canon and focuses on stopping patent trolls (via TechCrunch).
Another requirement for interested startups is 2014 revenue of between $500,000 and $20 million. Google will not let startups pick what patents you want, either. After you are accepted into the program, Google will send a list of three to five families of patents and allow you to pick two of them. Being non-organic patents, they are ones that Google purchased or otherwise acquired from a third-party, not ones that it developed in-house.
Google is accepting jut 50 startups into the program to begin with. If you are accepted but don’t actually get anything, Google will still give you access to its own database of patents to view. It’s important to note that joining the LOT Network, which is required to be eligible for Google’s own service, costs between $1,500 and $20,000 per year.
1. Participants will receive 2 patent families from Google’s patent portfolio. Google will identify a group of 35 assets generally based on the company’s business focus from which each participant can choose 2.
2. Visibility to Google’s patent portfolio. Google maintains a portal accessible to participants in the program that allows users to search Google’s nonorganic patent portfolio for assets that Google may be willing to sell. There is no cost for access to the portal, and Google will provide fair valuations on assets with which we are willing to divest.
More information can be found here.
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