Opportunity

An e-commerce-based company had an idea for new technology to improve a user’s experience on the company’s website. Before virtually any R&D occurred, the client sent GMI an invention disclosure, described as a near-theoretical framework of the technology.

Result

GMI performed an initial patent search, and found a virtual bull’s eye – a patent application broadly describing an identical invention from the multi-billion dollar leader in the market segment. While not yet in the marketplace and visible, the technology had been claimed.

Advantages

No R&D resources were consumed on what would ultimately be a dead-end idea – one which could have resulted in patent infringement (if the competitor’s pending application issued). Additionally, the cost to the client was less than $1000 dollars, and performed in under one week. R&D could immediately begin pursuing other projects.