What does a successful patent sale on the secondary market look like?

MRT Patents had a recent success helping a client sell a patent portfolio through Allied Security Trust (AST). In the search for a sales channel for the client's patent portfolio, MRT Patents also spoke with a talented patent broker that was a viable options to help market and sell the portfolio. 

Ultimately, in discussions with our client, we decided to use AST and ultimately successfully sold the portfolio. This blog focuses on the process with AST but similar steps would be used in a sale of patents through a patent broker.

Selling a patent portfolio through AST involves a process designed to facilitate transparent and efficient transactions between patent owners and AST's member companies. Here's a step-by-step guide to how MRT patents navigated this process for our client:

Determine The Value of Your Patents:

  • Get an MRT Patents Portfolio Valuation Report: This includes the market value information for the company's patents provided in the valuation report.
  • Establish Expectations: Research by MRT Patents discovered recent patent sales in similar technology areas to determine what may be possible.

Understand AST's Acquisition Interests:

  • Active, Granted Patents: AST focuses on acquiring active, granted patents rather than pending applications or mere ideas.
  • Technological Focus: AST is interested in a wide range of high-technology areas, with priority given to specific categories outlined annually.
  • Preferred Jurisdictions: Patents from the U.S., China, Europe (EP), France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom are preferred.

Prepare Your Patent Portfolio:

  • Comprehensive Documentation: Ensure all relevant documentation, including patent certificates and legal statuses, is organized.
  • Detailed Descriptions: Provide clear and concise descriptions of the patent's technology, applications, and potential market value.
  • Get an MRT Patents Claim Chart and Evidence of Use Report: It is important to support the submission with evidence of use and an analysis of potential infringement. MRT Patents Claim Chart and EOU Report helped AST members understand the value for at least a portion of the patents of the submitted patent portfolio in the global market. 

Submit Your Patent for Consideration:

  • Submission Process: MRT Patents completed and submitted the patent portfolio information via the AST website.
  • Submission Form: The submission form, providing detailed information about the client company and patent portfolio, including its relevance to AST's areas of interest, was completed and submitted.
  • Fixed Pricing: MRT Patents helped the client decide on a price range as part of the submission. The market value provided in the MRT Patents Portfolio Valuation Report provided a reasonably accurate range to what companies will pay on the secondary patent market. Ultimately, MRT Patents discussed possible pricing with AST based on the market value from the report.

Evaluation by AST:

  • Triage and Analysis: AST conducted a thorough evaluation of the submitted patent portfolio to assess its relevance and value to their member companies.
  • Member Review: The patent details were shared with AST's members, who then determined their interest in acquiring or licensing the patent.

Negotiation and Agreement:

  • Offer Communication: Once one or more members had interest in the portfolio, as was the case with the MRT Patents client, AST communicated an intended offer based on the price range.
  • Patent Assignment Agreement: Upon reaching an agreement, both parties will execute a Patent Assignment Agreement, formalizing the transfer of rights.

Using MRT Patents reports and having MRT Patents engage with the professionals at AST provided our client access to a consortium of leading technology companies, that were interested in our client's patent portfolio. 

Back to blog