James C Barney

US Patent:

6556992, Apr 29, 2003

Filed:

Sep 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/661765

Inventors:

Jonathan A. Barney - Newport Beach CA
James R. Barney - McLean VA

Assignee:

Patent Ratings, LLC - Newport Beach CA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707 6, 707 7

Abstract:

A statistical patent rating method and system is provided for independently assessing the relative breadth (âBâ), defensibility (âDâ) and commercial relevance (âRâ) of individual patent assets and other intangible intellectual property assets. The invention provides new and valuable information that can be used by patent valuation experts, investment advisors, economists and others to help guide future patent investment decisions, licensing programs, patent appraisals, tax valuations, transfer pricing, economic forecasting and planning, and even mediation and/or settlement of patent litigation lawsuits. In one embodiment the invention provides a statistically-based patent rating method and system whereby relative ratings or rankings are generated using a database of patent information by identifying and comparing various characteristics of each individual patent to a statistically determined distribution of the same characteristics within a given patent population. For example, a first population of patents having a known relatively high intrinsic value or quality (e. g. successfully litigated patents) is compared to a second population of patents having a known relatively low intrinsic value or quality (e. g.