Peer to Patent

Peer- to- Patent as a Business Model?

    Since its launch over 2 years ago, Peer-to-Patent has been called a lot of things, but business model is a new one.  John Hagel and John Seely Brown in the article titled “Peer-to-Patent: A System for Increasing Transparency”, recognized Peer-to-Patent in BusinessWeek for not only innovating the patent system, but also utilizing open innovation and crowdsourcing to implement a program that could quite possibly provide big business with a model for success. The article focuses on Peer-to-Patent’s success in using peer review as a valuable, transparent and efficient endeavor exemplifying how open innovation can increase productivity and efficiency within a business setting.  Specifically, it identifies the Peer-to-Patent program as a business model that successfully harnesses the power of teams, builds sustainable relationships, defines action points that require negotiation to refine the quality of the output by the teams, while also recognizing the programs recognition of institutional innovation, individual autonomy in the collaborative space and the value of attracting and integrating new participants.  Indeed, as Peer-to-Patent moves forward, it has seen the benefits discussed by the article and continues to implement this model while simultaneously seeking new and innovative ways to better effectuate transparency and efficiency in the patent system.   

Peer-to-Patent in BusinessWeek

BusinessWeek recently profiled Peer-to-Patent in "Peer-to-Patent: A System for Increasing Transparency".  The article discusses the history of P2P, the project's potential for wider adoption at the USPTO, and possibilities for similar projects in all areas of government.  The article closes with a list of lessons for business executives that can be taken from P2P, including harnessing the power of teams and not overdefining collaboration spaces.  The entire article is available here.

IBM's Modifies Strategy to Incorporate Peer Review

In the article “Innovative IBM has a Drive to Invent”, Jason Starr of the Essex Reporter discusses the method in which an IBM facility in Essex Junction provides a model of innovation and efficiency with a shift to openness. In order to attain the goal of remaining innovative and cost efficient, Starr remarks that the inventors in Essex Junction are “realizing [that] patenting is not the only way to benefit from their innovations” and have instead decided to designate certain inventions to be “published directly to the Internet for everyone to see.” The article further illustrates that IBM remains an active participant in patent reform debates by supporting the 2007 Supreme Court KSR v Teleflex decision “that made it easier for the U.S. Patent Office to reject patent applications as obvious, making it more difficult to obtain a United States patent.” Starr further notes IBM’s advocacy of programs, like Peer-to-Patent, to aid in patent reviewer efficiency.

Peer-to-Patent in Christian Science Monitor

In an article titled "Has the US patent system gone too far?", James Turner of the Christian Science Monitor discusses strategic changes in the landscape of the technology industry, including the "kind of uneasy 'mutually assured destruction' standoff among giants such as IBM and Microsoft, each holding patents that could be used against the other."  Turner also notes issues related to the emergence of IP holding companies and developments at the individual inventor level.  The article discusses administrative burdens at the PTO, proposed legislation to solve problems such as application backlog and inefficiencies associated with a first-to-invent system, and the potential effects of the Federal Circuit's recent Bilski decision. Peer-to-Patent is mentioned as a positive step in the reduction of examiners' workloads.  The article notes the current applicant consent requirement for Peer-to-Patent.  We'd like to thank all of the companies, large and small, and the inventors who have submitted their applications to the program so far, and strongly encourage anyone who may be considering submitting an application for peer review to contact us with any questions (info@peertopatent.org), or download the consent form here. 

Peer-to-Patent Update

Since the Peer-to-Patent pilot launched, there have been 370,011 pageviews from 67,188 absolute unique visitors in 152 countries/territories. 

There are currently 2,501 registered users of the site and nearly 350 prior art uploads by volunteer experts since the project’s launch.  Thank you to our peer reviewers! 

121 applications have completed or are currently participating in the program.  There are currently 27 patent applications available for review.  Click here for the list and thanks for your continued support.