AUDIT REPORT
Inventory issues
A catalogue of intellectual property assets, including disclosures, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, contracts, agreements, etc.
- Catalog (INVENTORY) of IP assets
- List of actions required to maintain each asset
- Affidavits of continued use of trademarks
- Maintenance fees required to keep patents in force
Rights issues
An understanding of rights that have been acquired, and whether they have been properly maintained; an understanding of those rights that have not been acquired and whether or not they should be.
- Development history of the identified IP
- Date of acquisition⁄creation
Ownership issues
Does the company have clear ownership over these assets?
Has title been properly assigned by employees⁄consultants?
Infringement issues
Are patents being used for which the company does not have rights?
- Litigation and negotiation options for discovered potential infringement by third parties
Strategic issues
Are these assets being properly managed and exploited in alignment with the strategic objectives? Are there restrictions to their use?
- List of filings to be pursued
- Copyright, trademark and patent applications to be filed
- List of procedures to be implemented
Deficiency issues
Are there patentable technologies currently not protected?
Are there copyright and trademark registration applications to be filed?
Are there affidavits of continued use of trademarks, maintenance fees to keep patents in force, etc.?
- Any IP defects uncovered during the audit
- Prioritized to-do list to be used as a starting point for subsequent audits