IP leveraging--- A Strategy Article from Mckinsey

The McKinsey Quarterly: Intellectual property: Partnering for profit: " Intellectual property: Partnering for profit Patents and proprietary processes represent an untapped source of revenue for many companies. McKinsey research shows that in lots of cases, companies could earn 5 to 10 percent of their operating income from the sale or licensing of intellectual property, yet most earn less than one-tenth that. Too often, they don't know what they have, what it is worth, or what other industries could do with it. The solution is to build a network of outside specialists who can identify the best market for each asset and use their industry contacts and experience to negotiate a sale. The authors describe the five kinds of specialists needed, their likely terms of engagement, and the keys to managing the network. The take-away Most companies' attempts to make money out of their intellectual property suffer from the mistaken belief that it is an easy source of revenue. But capturing the full value of these assets requires systematic effort, a well-managed network of outside partners, and active senior-management support. "