It’s been almost a year since we first announced LOT Network’s Patent Transfer Program, under which qualifying startups that are or become LOT Network members can receive three free patents from us. LOT Network is an international community of companies focused on protecting innovation. We believe that some of the most transformative technologies come out of the startup world, and giving startups access to free IP, along with free immunization from PAEs is one of the ways we help to jump-start these businesses.
We’re thrilled to share that Microsoft, in donating 500 patents to our Patent Transfer Program, joins the ranks of Canon, Lenovo, Google, and Red Hat in doing so. Startups that are both qualifying Microsoft Azure customers and LOT Network members can choose up to three patents donated by Microsoft in technical areas such as artificial intelligence, multimedia, and security (incremental to the three free patents offered by our standard patent program), to add to their portfolios free of charge.
I am so proud of our members — some of the most IP-savvy companies in the world, who have invested billions in R&D and created highly valuable patent portfolios — and their generosity and dedication toward advancing technology. They — once startups themselves — understand that startups have to be strategic about allocating resources, and that, often times, access to IP can seem out of reach. Yet they also recognize that having IP assets can strengthen a startup’s likelihood of getting funding, or provide it with protections it needs to get through the early stages.
LOT Network is truly an international organization with over 175 startups from 27 different countries. Our membership has grown quickly, and we continue to welcome an influx of startups as well as established companies, who work together seamlessly to enrich the global business community.
Ken Seddon is CEO of LOT Network. Ken has been an executive at some of the largest patent holders in the world including Apple, Micron, Motorola, Intel and ARM. LOT Network currently protects its members from litigation from over 1.6 million worldwide patents. Network members include market leaders such as Slack, Facebook, Amazon and Dropbox, as well as startups across industries.