ABSTRACT
One buzz-phrase you constantly hear in the IP world is “IP strategy.” Much of the talk and writing about IP strategy can be obtuse and hard to follow. What do people mean when they talk about “IP strategy” or a “patent strategy?” One helpful way to think about these concepts is as a plan of action or steps to be taken that support one or more “central organizing principles” (COPs) that explain why IP and patents are being pursued. Defining a COP for a given set of patenting circumstances brings the matter into focus. The patenting strategy is then defined as the steps or actions that need to be taken to support the COP. Writing a COP is like writing haiku. Keep it short and to the point so that it has maximum focus.
