Delivering an award-winning IP solution for Microsoft

On November 19, CPA Global, part of Clarivate was delighted to be awarded the prestigious Financial Times Intelligent IP Award   for 2020, alongside Microsoft. This award recognizes how businesses are using technology and data to better capture, protect, manage and leverage their IP, enabling advanced, strategic approaches to generating value.

Microsoft and CPA Global, part of Clarivate, have had a long and successful relationship, having worked together to transform IP efficiencies and improvements. Some key facts tell the story of the value provided to Microsoft:

  • Time-to-filing halved, decreasing from 90 days to fewer than 45 days
  • Nearly $6 million saved in United States maintenance fees post-data quality validation of expiry dates
  • $1.6 million saved on unnecessary expenses caused by faulty invoicing
  • 99% data integrity achieved

 

A partnership to support innovation

Innovative ideas have always been the most prized possessions of almost any company. However, barriers remain in turning these ideas into tangible assets. The complex and lengthy IP lifecycle is perhaps the biggest barrier of all.

For a company such as a Microsoft, among the world’s top 10 patent issuers with 80% of patents filed internationally, this challenge is further magnified.

 

“Microsoft had already begun using CPA Global solutions, including for patent annuities, and so it made sense to bring everything under one roof – or better put, into one cloud.”

 

The Microsoft IP Group knew it needed a more streamlined and efficient approach to managing this IP workload. It needed more visibility, more intelligence and greater control. With multiple vendors used across the team, it also needed a way to reduce inefficiency and streamline its IP processes.

Microsoft had already begun using CPA Global solutions, including for patent annuities, and so it made sense to bring everything under one roof – or better put, into one cloud.

Led by its director of IP operations Melanie Carmosino, Microsoft collaborated with the CPA Global team to roll out a new end to end cloud-hosted IP Management System (IPMS). CPA analysts combined Memotech and Innography with Microsoft PowerBI to consolidate the innovation activities of one of the world’s most dynamic technology enterprises and help power its digital transformation.

This new package was then deployed successfully across the IP function, fully integrating Microsoft colleagues into the IPMS. In its annual employee survey, Microsoft found user satisfaction had subsequently increased by 58%.

The results have been phenomenal, with Microsoft saving money whilst also increasing capacity for innovation and giving the gift of time to its attorneys and paralegals to spend on other more strategic areas of the business.

 

“In its annual employee survey, Microsoft found user satisfaction had subsequently increased by 58%.”

 

Together, we’ve shown just what can be achieved when even those with large and complex IP portfolios find the right partner.

Many businesses, even of smaller scale, face similar challenges to those faced by Microsoft. Lack of awareness of IP assets, frustration at the speed of bringing innovations to market, inefficient and insecure processes, limited human resources: these are all common problems.

 

Looking to the future

Looking ahead, our focus at Clarivate continues to be on consulting with our customers to address their challenges with software and services that delight and deliver the positive business outcomes that have transformed Microsoft, and countless others’, IP operations. That future looks more exciting than ever before with CPA Global, now part of Clarivate delivering our customers unrivalled access to the world’s IP data, the best talent and powerful integrations.

If you would like to hear more about how we were able to support Microsoft and how we may be able to support you, then contact us here.