January 30, 2020
Efrat's  Message : EfratMessage

 
Happy New Year from the team at Foresight Valuation Group! We open the year with our home team, the SF 49ers, going to the Super Bowl, and - to borrow a (soon to be trademarked) phrase from 49ers quarterback, Jimmy Garropolo -- "It Feels Great Baby!"
 
We start this first newsletter of 2020 with some of our blog highlights, including our IP Predictions and Wishes for the coming decade. One more blog highlight this month is our continued coverage of trade secrets case law, we explore the topic of head start damages. In the Media section, we present our recent contribution to Business Valuation Resources (BVR) on the topic of the correlation between IP and startup valuations.
 
We hope you can join some of our upcoming speaking events. Looking forward to a great year of innovation!
 
Warmly, 
     
Foresight in the Media:  InTheMedia


" In July 2019, BVR hosted the webinar: "IP in IPO: IP Valuation Lessons from Recent Public Exits.   In that webinar, I discussed the role that intellectual property (IP) assets play in startup valuations, and the IP strategy implemented by startups that recently went public. The webinar featured a series of studies we have been conducting and updating since 2015, which cover Unicorns (pre-exit startups with valuations exceeding $1 billion) and their IP positions.  Since some of the Unicorns recently went public, we were able to follow some of them throughout their lifecycle and observe what types of IP issues frequently emerge for startups, and how are companies dealing with them.  The article below represent six of the most common questions that routinely come up with regards to the correlation between IP and startup valuations.    I consider it a companion reading to the webinar, as it provides a recap of some of the key takeaways that are important for each startup (particularly in the software industry) looking to manage IP as a strategic business asset. " 



IP News Digest  IPNewsDigest

Thanks to cutting-edge digital technology, cars are increasingly like " smartphones on wheels", so manufacturers need to have access to the latest patented 4G and 5G technologies essential to navigation and communications. But often the companies that hold the patents are reluctant to license them because manufacturers will not accept the high fees involved, which leads to patent disputes and licensing rows.  

Wells Fargo has lost a second mobile deposit patent lawsuit brought against it by USAA in a federal court in Marshall, Texas.  The San Francisco-based bank was found liable for $102.8 million for improperly infringing on USAA's patents for mobile deposit.  It is the second recent loss for Wells Fargo versus USAA. In November, Wells Fargo was found liable in the amount of $200 million for infringing on two other patents.

The boom in copyright lawsuits is rattling the music industry - to the point where some artists and songwriters are spending tens of thousands of dollars on insurance policies.  Most of the world knows Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and T.I.'s "Blurred Lines" as a half-forgotten hit song from 2013. The  music industry  remembers it as its worst nightmare.

The National Intellectual Property Administration (NIPA) in China continues to clarify the guidelines for blockchain patent applications, which are set to become effective as of Feb. 1.  At the end of December 2019, the NIPA  announced  the revised guidelines to patent applications for new emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, big data, and business rules and methods.

It's been a season to remember for Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers.  If Garoppolo learned one thing from former mentor Tom Brady, it's that you have to cash in on your fame.  That's exactly what the 49ers' star signal-caller and his agent are trying to do, as Yee & Dubin Sports, who represent Garoppolo, filed for six trademarks for, "It feels great, baby".


Upcoming Events Upcomingevents
 
Foresight Speaking Engagements 


 
When: March 15-18, 2020
Where: Dallas, Texas