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IP Partner Enhances Licensing Capability with Addition of David A. Sacks >> More
 

3485 Cripple Creek Square
Boulder, CO 80305
Tel: 303.596.8239
Fax: 720.304.3410
Email: info@ip-partner.com

About Us

	Why IP?
	Why IP Partner?
	Leadership

IP Partner LLC was founded in 2003 with the mission of making professional patent search and intellectual property (IP) management capabilities within the reach of small and mid-sized businesses.  Today we have worked with companies and law firms involved in an array of industries.  Among them are biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostic instruments and devices, chemicals, materials, fuel cells and energy, data storage, software, telecommunication, and waste treatment. 

Why IP?

Since the 1990s, a number of Fortune 100 companies have started to embrace a systematic approach to intellectual asset management.  They implemented specialized patent databases in their worldwide operations for capturing invention ideas and improving collaboration on R&D.  Highly skilled technical staff, many with a masters or Ph.D., were trained and became dedicated patent information professionals.  This resulted in the generation of new revenue from IP licensing, higher profits, better alignment between what is needed for supporting the company's products and markets for what is being patented, more powerful weapons and bargaining chips in combating competitors' IP, and greater market valuation.

These capabilities and benefits, unfortunately, are beyond the reach of many businesses.  The lack of dedicated patent information professionals internally, and the high costs of special databases and tools, hinder the organizations' ability to navigate the complex technology and patent landscape.  As a result, they are greatly disadvantaged when it comes to the creation, protection, and monetization of their IP.  Furthermore, conducting R&D and entering the market without a patent/technology landscape map is like sailing in the sea without a compass. 

The total number of granted patents and new patent filings keep rising at an alarming pace.  Patent mines are no longer limited to one's known competitors, but come from little known startups, independent inventors, universities, and a new breed of patent firms whose revenues are not based on products, but solely on accumulating patents and aggressively litigating infringers.

Research In Motion (RIM), the maker of the BlackBerry wireless email device was facing the threat of a shutdown, not by rival device makers but a tiny patent firm NTP Inc. Amid sliding revenues, worries of resellers and millions of customers, millions in legal costs and building workaround solutions, RIM was forced to pay $612.5 million to resolve the case.

Clearly, intellectual assets are increasingly becoming a determining factor in separating the winners from the losers of today and tomorrow.  What you are missing in IP will impair your ability to launch new products.  What you don't know about the patent landscape of your industry and competitors will hurt you.  IP due diligence, like marketing or finance functions, should be a part of the standard process for every company whose livelihood depends on what claims have been staked in its patent portfolio. 

Why IP Partner?     

IP Partner combines patent search and analysis expertise, subscriptions to major patent and non-patent literature databases, and technical knowledge.  By working with IP Partner, you will obtain the intelligence and insights that the big companies have, but without the kind of investment in systems and staff. 

We build our reputation by providing high quality, reliable services one client at a time.  We listen to our clients carefully, and continually improve and develop our products and services.  We manage each project carefully and deliver promptly.  We consistently exceed client expectations for quality, value, responsiveness and timeliness.    

Let IP Partner be your partner in unlocking patent value.  In working with IP Partner, a client will benefit from the following:

IP Partner's Capabilities
	Experienced patent professionals.  Searches are conducted by a patent professional with a number of years training in patent research.
	Technical knowledge.  An IP Partner patent professional also has a Ph.D., masters or the equivalent in a science or engineering discipline.
	Subscription to multiple state-of-art patent and literature databases.  These databases offer value-added features, speed and efficiency that are not available in free public databases.  This saves clients from having to investment in tools and personnel associated with patent research.
	Fully conversant in patent issues
	High impact results presented clearly.  We filter a large amount of raw data to provide intelligence and insights so that clients can quickly make business decisions.
	Accurate and objective data.  Thorough attention to details in every search no matter the size of the job.
	Turnaround time to suit client's deadline
	Adherence to client's budget

Leadership

Eve Y. Zhou, Ph.D., Founder and President

Dr. Eve Y. Zhou is the developer of the unique IP-Savvy(SM) and IP-Invent(SM) series processes and tools for patent analysis, mapping and IP utilization. Prior to founding IP Partner LLC, she worked in software, data storage, E-commerce and biotechnology industries in licensing, strategic planning, marketing, and product development. Her previous experience includes positions as Director of Strategic Development with Corporate Express in which she was responsible for licensing and joint development negotiations for e-business technologies; Director of Business Development with Systemsfusion in which she negotiated and established a network of alliances through licensing agreements; Solution Manager with StorageTek in which she had the product line responsibility and negotiated third-party licensing agreements; and Product Manager with J&W Scientific (now Agilent) in which she managed the life science product line and negotiated several joint development agreements.  She is a member of Licensing Executive Society (LES) and Patent Information User Group (PIUG).  She holds a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry and an MBA from University of Colorado-Boulder.

Dave Sacks, VP, Licensing

Mr. Sacks has over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in licensing, business development and product development. He is also the founder and president of Pharma Technologies LLC, a business development consulting firm. His experience with major pharmaceutical firms including Wyeth Laboratories, A.H. Robins, Schein Pharmaceutical and LTS Lohmann Therapy Systems spans big pharma, generic and specialty pharma and drug delivery.  Dave Sacks holds a MS in Chemistry from Boston University and a MBA from Temple University.  Mr. Sacks is a member of the Licensing Executives Society.

Patrick Crane, SVP, Client Services

Pat Crane brings 30 years of executive and technical management, and consulting expertise to IP Partner and our clients. He has served as a corporate officer at Valleylab, Staodynamics and Ohmeda (division of BOC Group Ltd.) in addition to leading two NASDAQ companies as Chairman, President and CEO. His experience includes corporate governance, management of intellectual property, sales and marketing management, leadership of the research and development function of a global corporation, manufacturing processes development, and business financing. Pat holds a BS in Electrical Engineering, a MS in BioEngineering and a MBA in Finance and Marketing. He also served on the faculty of the University of Denver's innovative Masters Program in Technology Management.