Can you share your point of view on the current patent landscape?
The winds are shifting. We are seeing changes in administrations, the law, and venues that make it clear we are entering the Golden Age for PAEs.
With over 5,000 member companies and 5 million patent assets under protection, we are the largest, most effective shield against Patent Assertion Entities. And we didn’t get here by accident—it’s the result of ten years of building infrastructure, refining our agreement, and staying ahead of where the risk is going next.
In the U.S., we’re watching efforts to roll back key patent reforms, while in Europe, the Unified Patent Court (UPC) introduces new risks through cross-border enforcement. Patent assertion entities are paying attention. So should everyone else.
There’s a cloud on the horizon, and the innovation community has a decision to make: act now, or risk being caught off guard.
We already protect members from more than 20% of all active patents—a number that continues to grow. It is just a smart business decision.
How has LOT Network evolved over the years?
When we launched LOT Network it was an experiment of the IP Community. We were hopeful, but we didn’t know how the market would respond.
Those early days required vision and persistence—and the companies that joined us then were true visionaries. They helped us test and improve the agreement and shape the foundation for what LOT would become.
Today, the experience for members is seamless. The agreement is stronger and more transparent than ever. The onboarding process is simple. And beyond the legal protections, we’ve built a full ecosystem—community events, cross-industry insights, joint defense options, patent sale platform, and education. What today’s members inherit is a fully realized, market-proven solution.
Tell me about how the base of your membership has changed or evolved?
It’s grown, not shifted. A decade ago, most of our members were in high tech. Today, nearly every industry is technology-enabled, which means our reach has expanded dramatically.
Pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, consumer goods—these are companies that traditionally saw themselves outside the tech landscape. But now they’re using software, AI, and connected systems at scale. That brings with it the same PAE exposure high-tech companies have long faced. They realize that LOT Network applies to them in ways they would never have predicted 10 years ago.
What makes the LOT Network agreement especially valuable to members?
Simplicity. Uniformity. Practicality. If a member’s patent is ever transferred to a non-practicing entity (NPE), every other member is automatically immunized against it. That’s the core of the agreement. It’s clean, it’s enforceable, and it doesn’t interfere with how companies manage or monetize their own IP.
We anticipated how the legal landscape would evolve with the influx of capital, so we took our 10-year anniversary as an opportunity to enhance the agreement to stay ahead of these changes. What we offer isn’t just legal protection; it’s business risk mitigation. Today, joining LOT is just smart.
Do you see a domino effect when companies join by industry?
Absolutely.
We’ve seen this across retail, automotive, healthcare, and more. Once one company joins, others follow. The “first mover effect” is real. Risk isn’t theoretical anymore—it’s measurable, and companies are acting accordingly.
Why is a business-led solution more timely than ever?
Because we can’t afford to wait. Government policies shift. Patent law reform ebbs and flows with each administration. But the threat from PAEs is constant—and growing.
LOT is an innovation-first, market-driven solution. It doesn’t rely on regulation or politics. It’s neutral, scalable, and already proven. We give companies certainty in a space that’s increasingly unpredictable. At the end of the day, this isn’t about ideology—it’s about resilience, foresight, and protecting the future of innovation.
How do LOT Network members benefit outside of the agreement?
The legal protection is the core of what LOT is about—but the community is what keeps them. Members tell us they value the idea exchange, the peer connections, and the shared sense of mission.
Our annual BRIDGE member conference, newsletters, and member forums offer meaningful interaction.