Financial IP Exchange To Launch First Contract Offering In June

By Kelly Burke for Intellectual Property Watch

The Intellectual Property Exchange International Inc. (IPXI), the world’s first financial exchange that facilitates non-exclusive licensing and trading of IP rights, has announced it will start offering a licence contract in June.

A so-called Unit License Right (ULR) contract allows a patent holder to licence select technology via standard form licences in publicly disclosed terms. The ULR is the right of the owner (the purchaser) to use the technology in the production or sale of one product (IPW, US Policy, 15 April 2011).

IPXI will conduct two public web presentations on 5 June to unveil the first ULR contract offering and provide more details. Those interested in participating can register on the IPXI website.

“This first-of-its-kind offering will enable operating companies, investors and other market participants to buy and sell ULR contracts covering a large portfolio of more than 600 patent assets, including 225 issued patents worldwide, related to organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology for display screen applications,” according to an IPXI press release.

IPXI has taken a series of steps over the past few years, such as securing funding from strategic investors, building its staff, achieving a critical mass of membership from leading IP owners and developing its proprietary electronic trading platform (IPW, US Policy, 19 July 2012). The launch announcement comes just two months after the United States Department of Justice said it has not yet settled concerns about the possible negative effect on competition of the proposed patent exchange (IPW, US Policy, 26 March 2013).

IPXI recently released an updated IPXI Market Rulebook, which was developed by founding members and outlines the framework by which the exchange will operate.