I was out walking late one night recently, when I happened across a cactus with exquisite flowers. As I was looking deeper, a lady approached with a palpable excitement. Despite our mouth masks covering our faces and smiles, her eyes revealed her out-of-ordinary interest in these flowers. She called these the “Queen For One Night” flowers, as they only open for one night every year, and this was the night!!!

I personally don’t care much for royalty, but still, if the queen comes to your party, it means a lot to the people there, love her or not! This meeting got me thinking of other “queens” for one night – some of those many many patents I work with every year. Using the royal metaphor, there are many important functions and offices in the royal household, but only one king or queen who is really needed at the meeting. When you want to cast a spell, make a deal, you need to pull that Queen card out your bag, let it show off your leadership, make a fantastic impression, make it clear who is the boss in your space.

So too in your royal armament of innovation assets, you may have many important patents or IP assets, but many fewer polished diamonds. You may also have some rough diamonds, unpolished, but with strategic or tactical value. We need to know when to prepare and use the Queen and her particular form of brand power, and how. When you need the queen to come to your investment meeting or your product launch, to delight, charm and entertain, you had better bring her fully dressed in royalty, and ready to act on your behalf. Do yourself a big favor – get your cutting-edge IP assets dressed up and ready to do business for you, at the right time, so you make the most their royal appearance.

To the Future!

Yaron Damelin
Strategic IP Management Consultant