MAPPING YOUR PORTFOLIO:
The best way to do this is to create a spreadsheet. While initially this can be quite laborious to produce, once in place it is easy to keep up-to-date and it facilitates all other activities. The spreadsheet should include details for each patent family. Excel is particularly useful as youcan sort columns by specific criteria. The spreadsheet should include for each family:
1. Title and or internal reference.
2. Priority date.
3. The countries in which the patent has been filed (and granted).
4. What the patent or application covers. This can be done by pasting in the abstract or creating your own summary or key claims.
MORE SOPHISTICATED SPREADSHEETS WILL ALSO RECORD:
1. Claim types (compound, apparatus, process, etc).
2. Inventors.
3. Licences, patent term extensions (PTEs), etc.
4. Publication number in case of dispute as to what the patent contains. If you can create hyperlink to the patent text, so much the better.
5. A record of previous commercial decisions relating to the patent family and the reasons for them.
