Open Register of Patent Ownership Aims to Clarify Patent System Flaws

Strategic Insights -

The creation of the Open Register of Patent Ownership (ORoPO) by several large tech companies seeks to address the issue of hazy patent ownership, a flaw in the patent system that critics argue non-practicing entities (NPEs) exploit. The voluntary, non-profit organization will provide a freely accessible database of patent ownership, initially including details from its founder members. This initiative aims to tackle the accuracy issues in current patent ownership records, which are maintained across 180 different patent offices worldwide.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Open Register of Patent Ownership (ORoPO) is a voluntary, non-profit organization founded by tech companies to address patent ownership accuracy issues.
  • ORoPO aims to provide a free, accurate database of patent ownership, initially including information from its founder members.
  • The organization will tackle the accuracy issues in current patent ownership records maintained across 180 different patent offices worldwide.
  • The founders of ORoPO believe that up to one quarter of the information held by these offices is inaccurate.
  • Former USPTO director David Kappos and former chief economist of the UK IPO Tony Clayton are among the board members.
  • Microsoft has publicly listed all its patents since March 2013 and will continue to do so through ORoPO.

Statistics:

  • Up to 25% of patent ownership information held by 180 different patent offices worldwide is believed to be inaccurate.
  • There are 180 different patent offices worldwide, each maintaining patent ownership records.
  • Microsoft has publicly listed all its patents since March 2013, and will continue to do so through ORoPO.

Sources:

  • [1] "Critics of non-practicing entities (NPEs) -- the ones who call these companies "patent trolls" -- believe that one of the flaws in the patent system that NPEs exploit..." (Source: unknown, date not specified)
  • [2] "The founders of ORoPO believe that the fact that information on the ownership of patents is recorded in 180 different patents offices around the world, and many of those offices -- up to one quarter, according to ORoPO -- of the information held by these offices is inaccurate." (Source: unknown, date not specified)
  • [3] "Microsoft believes that patent ownership transparency continues to be an important part of a well-functioning patent system." (Source: Erich Andersen, vice president and deputy general counsel of Microsoft, 2015)