Top 5 Invention Disclosure Software to Streamline Your Patent Program in 2024

Ditching Excel or other makeshift methods for a specialized invention disclosure tool is a crucial pivot toward refining your patent strategy. Yet, it’s not a decision to be taken lightly. The market is teeming with options, each with its own features designed to streamline the innovation capture process across your organization.

You’ll find platforms that boast inventor-friendly, customizable forms designed to boost engagement among your innovators. Others highlight dashboards that provide a clear overview of your idea and patent pipeline, including detailed insights into patent portfolios and the activities of inventors and managers. 

Some solutions are tailored to foster innovation directly, enabling you to target specific challenges with campaigns that solicit creative solutions. And there are those that integrate patent incentives right into the software, making it easier to reward and motivate your team.

With such a diverse array of tools at your disposal, the key is to identify what aligns best with your organization’s objectives to fortify your patent program. To help you navigate this selection, here’s our insight on the top 5 invention disclosure software options to consider.

Features to Look For in Any Invention Disclosure Software

In 2022, the rush to secure intellectual property rights peaked, with global patent applications topping 3.46 million, as reported by the World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) 2023. This surge underscores a global trend: companies eagerly seek to protect their groundbreaking innovations, keen on cementing their market dominance.

The frontrunners in this race are those equipped with streamlined processes and the optimal tools.

Before diving into our top software picks for invention disclosure, it’s crucial to understand the selection criteria. Here’s a breakdown of key factors to guide your decision-making process:

Ease of Use

The effectiveness of invention disclosure software is profoundly impacted by its user-friendliness. 

Software with an intuitive interface dramatically reduces the need for extensive training, promotes regular engagement, and smoothens the journey of logging new ideas. 

Aim for solutions that streamline the submission workflow with clear, concise instructions, allowing inventors to concentrate on their innovations rather than navigating the complexities of the tool.

Enterprise-Wide Innovation Capture

To effectively capture innovation throughout an organization, invention disclosure software must be easily accessible to employees in all departments. 

The software should feature role-based access, which is crucial to ensure that the user sees only the information he should have access to. Role-based access permits individual inventors to generate and edit their ideas, department heads to oversee and evaluate all submissions, and legal or IP teams to have exclusive access to sensitive information. 

Implementing this setup safeguards confidential data and promotes a culture of innovation that is both inclusive and secure.

Collaboration on Idea Development

The software’s ability to support and enhance brainstorming sessions is non-negotiable. The ideal software should enable seamless collaboration among team members, incorporating features such as real-time commenting, discussion threads, and recording keeping for changes in the idea summaries. 

These interactive features are essential for facilitating a dynamic exchange of ideas, allowing participants to engage in constructive dialogues, share feedback, and collectively refine concepts, irrespective of geographical barriers.

Moreover, the software should offer capabilities like version tracking, categorization of ideas, and linking related concepts or documents to maintain a structured brainstorming process and aid in revisiting and refining ideas over time.

Tailored Customization Capabilities 

Customization in invention disclosure software is paramount, enabling organizations to tailor the software to their unique workflows, terminology, and specific innovation capture nuances. 

This adaptability allows for adding, deleting, or editing fields, using diverse field types, and implementing conditional logic for a streamlined and efficient disclosure process. 

With features like customizable templates, branding options, controlled access to customization, and integration capabilities with existing enterprise systems, the software ensures that it can evolve with your business, maintaining relevance and effectiveness. 

Advanced Idea Filtration

A vital functionality in any invention disclosure software is the ability to filter through the myriad of captured ideas effectively. 

The ideal software should provide comprehensive filtering options, enabling users to efficiently organize and sift through ideas according to key parameters like development stage, technical domain, potential market uses, or the department of origin. 

Data-Driven Actionable Insights

The software should have sophisticated analytics and reporting capabilities, including insights into the likelihood of patent allowance and detailed examiner analytics, which can significantly reduce obstacles during the patent prosecution process. 

Such advanced features enable organizations to craft evidence-based patent prosecution strategies by leveraging data on past patent outcomes and examiner tendencies.

Tool Helpdesk and In-App Support

In-app support is crucial to ensure that your team can accomplish the purpose of investing in invention disclosure software.

The TIP Tool™ incorporates ‘i’ buttons within the software. These buttons provide instant explanations and useful information about various features and functionalities of the tool, enabling users to understand and utilize the tool more effectively without external assistance.

In addition to the in-tool support, Triangle IP offers a robust help desk platform. This platform is a treasure trove of learning materials, including video tutorials and written guides, covering various topics, from adding and editing ideas to navigating the dashboard and much more. 

These resources are designed to empower users to fully explore and leverage the tool’s capabilities to support their innovation and patent management processes.

Also Read: 7 Surefire Ways To Get More Invention Disclosures

5 Best Invention Disclosure Software to Look for in 2024

Selecting promising ideas for patenting lays the foundation for a strong patent portfolio. Thus, capturing innovation goes beyond mere documentation; it involves assessing the idea’s potential, aligning it with business strategies, and ensuring intellectual property protection.

The effective invention disclosure software streamlines this process, making idea submissions more efficient, improving evaluation methods, and fostering collaboration between legal and technical teams. 

However, selecting the most suitable software demands an understanding of its features, cost, and user reviews. To decide which one to pick for integrating into your patent mining process, let’s explore the top choices:

1. The TIP ToolTM by Triangle IP

The TIP Tool™ streamlines patent management by offering an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for capturing and tracking innovation across an organization. It enhances the patent lifecycle management through detailed patent data analytics.

Key Features and Benefits of the TIP ToolTM

Triangle IP’s TIP Tool™ democratizes patent portfolio management by offering user-friendly features and actionable insights into costs and patentability. It ensures role-specific access for all stakeholders within the organization, providing real-time updates and frequent communications from the patent office.

The TIP Tool™ transforms the overwhelming complexity of patent information management—often reliant on external counsel—into a streamlined process where users are empowered with the knowledge to make informed decisions. Its simplified analytics make strategic planning straightforward.

With the TIP Tool, strategic management of a patent portfolio becomes as familiar and accessible as managing any other standard business process.

Here is a quick walkthrough of its features to show how the tool delivers on its promise:

  1. Tracking of Ideas through Patents to Engage Stakeholders

The TIP Tool™ enhances patent pipeline visibility by updating users as ideas progress through stages such as ‘Idea Capture,’ ‘Internal Vetting,’ ‘Patent Drafting,’ and ‘Patent Filing.’ Users can move the ideas from one stage to another with easy-to-use drag-and-drop functionality.

  1. Intuitive Invention Disclosure Form to Boost Disclosures

The tool’s intuitive invention disclosure form boosts the number of captured disclosures. Plus, for businesses preferring controlled access, the idea capture form comes in both Word and Excel formats and is easily integrated back into the tool.

The form’s customization allows for the organization-specific tailoring of fields, enhancing relevance and focus during different stages of idea development.

With capabilities for tagging ideas by technology or business function and attaching supplementary materials, it streamlines the process of filtering and illustrating innovations, making it a versatile tool for capturing patentable ideas efficiently.

  1. Real-time Collaboration for Thorough Vetting of Ideas

The TIP Tool™ facilitates real-time brainstorming amongst stakeholders present across numerous remote locations. This seamless collaboration supports a thorough vetting process, enhancing the selection of potential ideas for patenting. 

Features like editing idea summaries, adding tags, and reviewing comments streamline capturing collective insights, similar to using Google Docs. Plus, it meticulously tracks all changes and the details of individuals responsible for every action, ensuring transparency and accountability in idea development. 

  1. Role-based Access for Enterprise-Wide Innovation Capture

The TIP Tool™ promotes enterprise-wide innovation capture as breakthrough ideas can come from anywhere in the enterprise (not just the R&D department) by facilitating role-based access. Role-based access ensures widespread participation in innovation capture programs while keeping the enterprise’s IP data confidential.

  1. Case Analytics and Cost Prediction for Informed Use of IP Budget

The TIP Tool™ facilitates strategic IP budgeting by offering analytics on the likelihood of patent allowance and associated end-to-end patenting costs. 

It evaluates patent applications to determine their chances of success at the patent office and provides statistics on patent counsel and examiners handling the cases. This guidance helps direct investments towards ideas with higher chances of approval.

The estimated costs cover filing, attorney, and maintenance fees for both provisional and non-provisional patent applications. Plus, it forecasts future expenses, like a maintenance fee due next month, helping you smartly plan your IP budget.

  1. Patent Application Status Updates to Stay in Sync With the USPTO

The TIP Tool™ automatically stays in sync with the USPTO, keeping users informed about their patent applications without requiring the help of an external legal counsel. It offers instant notifications on actions required by the USPTO and includes a private PAIR scrape feature for accessing the status of yet-to-be-published applications, enhancing transparency and control over the patenting process. 

Pricing 

Pricing for The TIP Tool™ includes a free tier for up to 10 users, a premium tier at $50 per month or $495 per year, and a custom tier for tailored needs. 

The tool also provides a demo playground featuring pre-populated data, allowing for an easy exploration of its functionalities. For more details, visit its pricing page

Customer Review

The tool has an impressive rating of 4.5 stars on G2. Here’s a review by a trusted customer: 

2. Onit Invention Disclosure

Onit Invention Disclosure Software offers a comprehensive electronic process for the management of intellectual property (IP) from research to commercialization. It’s designed to guide inventors through the process of documenting and evaluating their inventions for potential market value, ensuring that every step towards protecting and commercializing IP is thoroughly covered. 

Source- Onit 

Key Features Offered by Onit Invention Disclosure

Onit Invention Disclosure guides staff through the stages of exploiting IP, providing a means to examine commercial applications of inventions and identify inventorship. Here are some key features of the tool: 

  1. Guided Invention Disclosure Process

This feature navigates staff through the complex stages of IP exploitation, offering a structured pathway from initial idea to potential commercialization. It ensures that all necessary steps are taken to protect the intellectual property effectively.

  1. Event-Based Workflow

The tool establishes a detailed timeline and description of an invention using an event-based workflow. This helps in documenting how the invention was created and can be reproduced, highlighting its significance, improvements over existing designs, and its distinctiveness from prior art.

  1. IP Capture and Commercial Viability Analysis

The software enables IP teams to capture and track new inventions from the outset, assessing their commercial viability. This functionality is crucial for making informed decisions regarding IP protection and the commercialization process, thereby enhancing the strategic management of intellectual property.

Pricing 

The price of the software is not available publicly. 

Customer Review 

Source- G2

3. Discovery by Rowan Patents

Discovery by Rowan Patents is designed to streamline the invention disclosure and patent drafting process, focusing on efficiency and clarity. It provides tools to help patent practitioners and inventors quickly identify and document patentable inventions, ensuring high-value work takes precedence.

Source- Rowan Patents

Key Features Offered by Discovery

The Discovery by Rowan Patents aims to speed up the drafting and filing of patent applications by facilitating the right queries for building inventive concepts, as well as offering the following suite of features. 

  1. Drafting Process Simplification

The software provides a user-friendly interface that helps practitioners organize ideas directly into patent documents, significantly reducing time spent on formatting and allowing for quicker drafting.

  1. Enhanced Patent Drafting Efficiency

The tool streamlines the patent drafting process, allowing inventors and patent practitioners to identify the core elements of patentable innovations quickly. This focus on efficiency ensures that more time can be spent on refining and protecting novel ideas.

  1. Prioritization of Strategic Patent Development

By guiding inventors to ask the right questions about their inventions, the software ensures that every patent application is built on a solid foundation of the inventive concept. This strategic approach not only improves the quality of patents but also the potential for their approval.

  1. Optimization of Financial Resources

The platform reduces the time to draft and file patent applications, cutting down on misunderstandings and revisions. This efficiency directly contributes to a better bottom line by speeding up the protection process and reducing associated costs.

  1. Discovery-Focused Functionality

The software is designed specifically for the discovery phase of patent development; it aids attorneys in swiftly capturing and documenting protectable ideas, making it a crucial tool for law firms and corporate legal departments alike.

  1. Integrated Collaboration Capabilities

With its in-band collaboration features and automated workflows, Discovery keeps all communications and documents in one place. This centralized approach eliminates confusion and streamlines the patent application process.

  1. AI-Driven Predictive Analytics

Leveraging AI-backed analytics, Discovery offers insights into the originality, allowance rate, and potential success of patent applications. This predictive capability enables users to make informed decisions on which inventions to pursue, enhancing the strategic management of IP portfolios.

Pricing 

The annual subscription cost for Discovery is determined by several key factors, including the volume of patent applications processed and the number of practitioners utilizing the software. You can also book a no-obligation discovery call with Rowan Patents to learn more. Check it out for precise details. 

Customer Review 

Source- Rowan Patents

4. DIAMS Invent by Dennemeyer

DIAMS Invent, as part of Dennemeyer’s IP management suite, is a comprehensive Intellectual Property (IP) management software designed for corporations and universities with a focus on Research & Development (R&D). It streamlines the entire IP lifecycle from invention disclosure to patent filing and litigation management, facilitating a seamless exchange between R&D teams and IP departments. 

Source- DIAMS

Key Features Offered by DIAMS Invent

Developed with nearly 60 years of IP management experience, DIAMS Invent offers a user-friendly platform with extensive customization options to meet the diverse needs of any industry.

Here are some key features of DIAMS Invent: 

  1. Mass Creation of IP Records

The tool enables inventors to quickly generate accurate IP records and file letters with just a few clicks, significantly reducing administrative workload. 

  1. Seamless R&D and IP Team Collaboration

The software provides a platform for easy communication and document transfer between R&D personnel and IP managers, thereby enhancing collaboration and efficiency in the development and protection of intellectual property.

  1. In-depth Analysis and Dashboards

It offers comprehensive reporting tools and customizable dashboards, providing insights into the status, performance, and trends of the IP assets for data-driven decision-making and management of IP portfolios.

  1. Customizable Invention Disclosure Workflows

Organizations can design and implement custom workflows, including custom form builders for assessment and digital handover processes.

  1. Integrated Prior Art Search

The tool incorporates AI-based patent search tools to streamline the prior art search process, aiding in the assessment of invention novelty and patentability.

Pricing 

The price of the software is not available publicly. However, you can register for their free demo here

Customer Review 

Source- DIAMS

5. Memotech by Clarivate

Memotech, by Clarivate, is an advanced and customizable IP Management System tailored for large corporate IP departments. It offers full visibility across the entire IP lifecycle, facilitating innovation, improving IP management and protection, and enabling agile portfolio management and optimization.

Source- G2

Key Features Offered by Memotech

Memotech allows seamless integration with existing systems and customization to align with specific organizational needs, significantly reducing administrative workload and fostering informed decision-making through deep analysis and accurate data verification.

Here are some key features of Memotech:

  1. Portfolio Visibility

The software provides a unified platform for all IP-related information, ensuring team members and stakeholders have access to necessary data throughout the IP lifecycle. This feature enhances transparency and accessibility, making it easier to manage and track the progress of IP assets.

  1. Deep Analysis

It offers robust reporting tools that combine critical data for controlling costs and aligning with the company’s IP strategy. This facilitates informed decision-making by providing insights into trends, asset value, and strategic alignment.

  1. Clean, Accurate Data

The tool features automated data verification against IP One Data to ensure the reliability and accuracy of bibliographic details. This minimizes errors and maintains the integrity of the IP portfolio.

  1. Hosted or On-Premise

The software is available as both an on-premise installation and a hosted solution; it provides flexibility in deployment according to the organization’s needs. This choice comes with dedicated support, high security, and continuous maintenance and monitoring.

  1. Workflow Automation

It streamlines IP processes with customizable workflows for consistent steps and approval chains. This application supports invention disclosure, trademark search, and filing processes, enhancing efficiency and output quality through automation.

  1. Meeting Application

The tool simplifies meeting preparations and accelerates decision-making. It facilitates the review of key data, recommendations, and meetings to make action IP decisions, all while integrating seamlessly with Memotech for data sharing.

Pricing

You need to contact their sales team for pricing details. 

Customer Review 

Source- G2

TIP ToolTM – Your Dependable Invention Disclosure Software 

Choosing the best invention disclosure software involves considering many factors, such as ease of use, comprehensive management features, customization, and security of IP data. 

However, the ultimate goal of selecting the right invention disclosure software is to streamline the IP management process in your organization. And the TIP Tool™ by Triangle IP does exactly that. It’s designed for companies aiming to protect their IP efficiently while fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration. 

The TIP Tool™ by Triangle IP enhances the user experience with an innovative demo playground. This demo playground is equipped with a simulated patent portfolio, enabling potential users to delve into the tool’s functionalities without incorporating their personal patent data. This feature is especially beneficial for users who wish to understand the tool’s capabilities in a risk-free environment.

By registering for an interactive product demo, users gain firsthand experience with the TIP Tool™, exploring its wide array of features designed to manage patent portfolios efficiently and optimize the patent mining process. This hands-on approach allows users to assess how the TIP Tool™ can meet their specific needs in protecting and managing intellectual property. 

To see how the TIP Tool™ can elevate your IP management strategy, register on the TIP Tool™ today! 

Why Should C-Suite Executives Look Beyond Spreadsheets for Reviewing IP Updates?

As patent portfolios expand, keeping up with the latest IP developments is crucial for C-suite executives. It’s essential for aligning IP strategy with business goals.

Yet, the traditional methods are falling short. Executives often rely on dry, cryptic spreadsheets to understand their enterprise’s patent portfolio. 

But speaking from over 25 years of patent prosecution experience, I’ve found that Excel spreadsheets frequently fail to provide meaningful insights.

It’s time for a change. Here’s why I believe leaders need to look beyond these conventional tools.

The Inefficiency of Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets have long been the standard tool for tracking enterprise patent portfolios, summarizing data from patent counsel’s docketing software.

While spreadsheets do include high-level information such as the number of patents issued, titles, inventors, and filing dates, they fall short in revealing the true essence of the patent portfolio. Not even a summary of the patent is typically provided with only a title giving any insight.

C-suite executives need more than just numbers and dates. They seek insights into the technology’s underlying potential, its uniqueness, and how it aligns with broader business objectives. Board meetings require a focus on aspects such as use cases, novel functionalities, and the innovations they embody.

Specifically, executives look for insights into:

  • Market Opportunities: Understanding the potential areas where patented technology could be applied, your products covered, possible revenue streams, and your market differentiation.
  • Competitive Advantage: Knowing how each patent differentiates the enterprise from competitors, adding value to products, and creating unique market propositions.
  • Business Strategy Alignment: Assessing how the patent portfolio fits with overall business strategy, guiding resource allocation, and informed decision-making.
  • Risk Assessment: Evaluating the strength and potential challenges of patents as a defense against competitors, allowing leaders to make well-informed decisions to protect their intellectual property.

Spreadsheets just aren’t designed to provide these insights, making them nearly ineffective for the complex decision-making that executives need. It’s time to look beyond this standard approach.

The Need for More Interactive Tools

It’s time to embrace interactive tools designed to provide more than mere data points from an enterprise’s patent portfolio.

An interactive patent management tool must offer the following:

  • Interactive List of Patents: The tool should enable C-suite executives to navigate an interactive list of patents effortlessly, with clear summaries, organized by tags and search features. This allows for easy exploration of patents related to specific product lines, technologies, and more.
  • Granular Details: The tool must further offer granular details about each patent, including information about the counsel and examiner, and a copy of the patent along with a user-generated feedback of its value to the enterprise.
  • Patent Vetting Assistance: The tool must facilitate collaboration and allow for the efficient selection of promising ideas. Functionalities like simultaneous editing and documented changes can help align patents with the enterprise’s strategic vision without lengthy meetings.
  • Effective Budget Execution: The tool must offer insights into anticipated costs for end-to-end patent prosecution.
  • Strategic Patent Prosecution: The tool must offer insights into the allowance history of the examiner and patent counsel handling the case to strategize patent prosecution.
  • Multiple Innovation Dashboards: Role-specific dashboards provide relevant perspectives for different stakeholders, keeping everyone aligned with strategies and KPIs.
  • Automated Patent Office Syncing: Staying automatically in sync with the U.S. Patent Office, such interactive tools can reduce legal fees that enterprises pay outside patent counsel to provide updates and status.

More Engaged and Informed Decision-Making

Modern, interactive patent management tools offer a more efficient way to discuss and analyze the portfolio during meetings. Patent attorneys and portfolio managers can access a clear picture of the portfolio through easy switching between applications and interactive dashboards.

If there’s a need to discuss a specific patent or product, it can be quickly searched, providing immediate insights into the status and potential issues, without the time and cost of traditional attorney fees.

Instead of juggling different versions of spreadsheets, authorized personnel can access the details through shared login credentials. This ensures integrity and efficiency in querying data.

By eliminating the limitations of spreadsheets, these interactive tools facilitate a more engaged and informed decision-making process, allowing for a streamlined and cost-effective approach to patent management.

Looking Beyond the Spreadsheets

The move to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is evident in many business functions, with the SaaS industry projected to reach $591.8 billion by 2023, according to Gartner. This shift sees businesses increasingly favoring SaaS tools over spreadsheets for various tasks.

In this modern era, relying on spreadsheets to gain insights into a patent portfolio feels outdated and doesn’t provide the insights needed to properly capitalize on opportunities.

With 25 years in patent prosecution, I strongly advocate –

“Embracing interactive tools for patent management isn’t just the future; it’s the key to unlocking the enterprise’s full innovation potential.”

9 Best Intellectual Property Management Software For Businesses In 2023

Tracking your Intellectual Property from the idea stage to the commercialization stage is an ordeal, involving high risks with no room for inadvertent errors. Storing confidential Intellectual Property-related information on generic systems like spreadsheets is susceptible to data breaches and inefficient.

To earn a competitive advantage in business, organizations need to be on top of their IP game. Having a systematic business process for managing ideas will help your organization in identifying patentable and commercially viable inventions. Today there are various tools and software that allow you to keep track of your Intellectual Property at every stage. They are easy to use and you can choose the software best suited to your company’s needs. Intellectual Property management softwares help you capture the most promising ideas and track their progress till these become IP assets. 

Let’s look at the 9 best Intellectual Property management software for businesses to use in 2022:

#1. The TIP Tool™ by Triangle IP

The (TIP) Tool makes your patent mining process transparent and easy. It is an intuitive and engaging platform, with a drag and drop workflow. It helps with the idea capturing and internal vetting, where approval for drafting a patent is sought. The draft patent applications can be stored and exchanged securely by the prosecutor. Upon filing the application, the serial number and filing date are added along with a copy of the final application. You can also get the patenting cost estimates, case statistics, and examiner analytics, and stay in sync with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). It is a reliable way to ease your headache of complex Intellectual Property management at your enterprise. 

Key Benefits:

Improve the quality of invention disclosures ​- Get more invention disclosures using a simple & intuitive invention disclosure form

Best Intellectual Property Management Software - Triangle IP's Invention Disclosure Form

Gain patent pipeline visibility – Track your idea through various stages of the process whether it is being evaluated at your end or passed to your counsel for drafting and filing

TBest Intellectual Property Management Software - riangle IP's patent pipeline visibility

Brainstorm ideas with stakeholders on a real-time basis – Brainstorm and discuss ideas with inventors, prosecutors, managers working in remote locations and collaborate on a real-time basis

Best Intellectual Property Management Software - Triangle IP's real time collaboration feature

Case analytics and cost prediction – Know the probability of getting your idea patented or a prediction on how much getting a patent may cost over the years

Triangle IP's Case analytics and cost prediction

USPTO status updates – Automatic application(s) status update with USPTO for your published as well as unpublished applications

Triangle IP's USPTO Status Updates

Patent counsel and examiner statistics – Make informed decisions with your patent counsel and examiner analytics by knowing more about the law firm &  examiner handling your application 

Patent counsel and examiner statistics

A holistic view of your patent pipeline at a glance – Identify the bottlenecks in your innovation pipeline by gaining visibility into your entire IP lifecycle through various dashboards

A holistic view of your patent pipeline at a glance

Additional Benefits:

  • Approving ideas – Lock approved ideas to enhance protection
  • Merge multiple ideas – Drag & drop multiple ideas into a single filing
  • Scoring – Prioritize your ideas with the value score
  • Magic link – Passwordless login with single-use email link
  • Archiving ideas – Archive low priority ideas so as to focus on other unfiled ideas
  • Tagging – Use tags to group and filter ideas
  • Nurturing – Strengthen collaboration by notifying stakeholders

Pricing:

​​Free TierPaid Tier ($495 Per Portfolio, Yearly)
User limit – 10User limit – 25
Storage –  5 GBStorage – 20 GB
Maximum file size – 10 MB Maximum file size – 50 MB
Portfolios – 1Portfolios – 3
Private Pair Access
Case Analytics
Portfolio Manager
Family Trees
Customizable Idea Form
Real-Time Collaboration
Enhanced Nurturing
First Month Free – SignUp Today

Deployment: 

Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based.

Who Needs this Software

The person responsible for managing intellectual property at a small-to-medium-sized enterprise that files 5+ patents per year. The enterprise needs a systematic business process to capture innovations and track the progress from ideas to patents

Users’ Perspective

One of the users of TIP Tool reviewed it as “Quite a useful tool to manage overall ideas”. 

  • The tool is easy to use and understand, even for a person who is not from a patent background
  • Gives a smooth platform to store ideas in one place and track them through a complete IP lifecycle
  • Role-based access – admin, inventors, managers, patent prosecutors with different permissions

Product Demo Video/Snapshots

The TIP Tool comes with the power of patent analytics. Watch the video to know how analytics can help you make informed IP decisions

#2. AppColl Prosecution Manager

AppColl Prosecution Manager is a cloud-based Intellectual Property management software and docketing platform. The service allows access to all documents from any web browser, anytime, and communication between all parties associated with filing a patent in the US and internationally.

Key Features:

  • Offers 9 interdependent modules for tasks, matters, prior art, files, billing, reports, contacts, invent, and conflicts
  • Automates many of the docketing and workflow activities
  • Provides the complete prosecution history of patent and trademark matters through data retrievals from the USPTO’s Private PAIR and TSDR reporting systems
  • Keeps track of fees and expenses

Pricing: 

Free trial for 30 days. 

It has two versions of the tool, pro at 100 USD per month and plus at 130 USD per month.

Deployment: 

Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based.

Who Needs this Software

Suitable for law firms to assist in the patent prosecution stage of IP lifecycle.

Users’ Perspective

A patent lawyer based in California has reviewed it as “Destroys big law firms for pennies on the dollar”.

  • Affordable and scalable

Product Demo Video/Snapshots

Appcoll’s YouTube channel has many videos to give you a fair idea of how the product works.

#3. Minuet 

Minuet is an IP management software solution from Inteum Company to help you manage your IP portfolio. It helps to streamline the entire technology supply chain, from Intellectual Property to monetization.

Key Features:

  • Custom dashboards, dynamic charts, and analysis
  • Patent Intelligence Suite automatically updates patent records & search for patents 
  • Activity Management
  • Technology Publisher 
  • Inventor Portal

Pricing:

Offers a free trial.

Deployment: 

  • Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based
  • Desktop – Mac, Windows, Chromebook

Who Needs this Software

Innovative organizations that create or manage intellectual property. Also suitable for tech transfer offices in research institutions and IP departments at companies.

Users’ Perspective

We migrated to Inteum just over a year ago from a bespoke database

  • Good CRM functionality
  • Quickly accessible during the meetings
  • The ability to create user-defined fields on one’s own is great

Product Demo Video/Snapshots

Best Intellectual Property Management Software

Source: Inteum

To get more insights watch the dashboard demo by Inteum 

#4. FoundationIP

FoundationIP by CPA Global checks bibliographic data automatically, providing real-time discrepancy management. It is a one-click docketing system that automates USPTO office actions from private PAIR to save time and reduce the likelihood of error. It includes dashboards to create and share visualizations to align your IP with the wider business strategy.

Key Features:

  • Efficient workflows
  • One-click docketing
  • Insightful dashboard
  • Expert Support
  • Security
Best Intellectual Property Management Software

Source: Foundation IP

Pricing: 

Per feature pricing model.

Deployment: 

Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based.

Who Needs this Software

Suitable for law firms and corporate IP departments of all sizes as it is scalable and can grow and mature with your business as needed.

Users’ Perspective

Foundation IP – Great docketing system

  • Easy to use
  • Customizable 
  • Frequent updates to make the docketing experience better

Product Demo Video/Snapshots

You can find an overview of the FoundationIP software here.

#5. PatentCAM

PatentCAM by IP Checkups is a collaborative, patent management software for R&D, legal, and business teams to make strategic business decisions. It lets you analyze patent search results, mitigate legal risk and determine marketability. It was created to categorize, archive, and monitor essential, technical information.

Key Features:

  • IP portfolio management
  • Patent tracking
  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Monitor competitor activity – daily, weekly, or monthly alerts
  • Customizable & searchable fields

Pricing:

Free demo available.

Deployment: 

Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based.

Who Needs this Software

Suitable for the R&D, legal, and business teams of companies of all sizes. 

Users’ Perspective

PatentCAM: Powerful and adaptable tool for IP peace of mind”.

  • Technical support and analysis by IP Checkups is topnotch
  • User-friendly and logical
  • Having information in an off-site safe place gives peace of mind
  • If you ask for a feature, they will try to build it

Product Demo Video/Snapshots

You can find a webinar on PatentCAM uploaded by IP Checkups on YouTube.

#6. Sophia 

Wellspring’s IP Management software, Sophia delivers automated docketing processes, easy invention disclosures, streamlined workflows, and visibility on contract obligations. It is a full-service Intellectual Property management software that helps to manage your growing IP portfolio.

Key Features:

  • Configurable
  • Patent tracking
  • Docket management
  • Integrated online disclosures
  • Manage contracts & licenses

Deployment: 

Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based.

Who Needs this Software

Best for in-house or corporate patent counsels across all industries. 

Users’ Perspective

More than a place to store information – Sophia as SOP and long-term institutional memory

  • Provides ease of use and logic between the different modules of Intellectual Property Disclosures
  • Scalable and ease of adding other departments as users
  • Keeps us on track in all tech-transfer matters, Intellectual Property management, and agreement processing

Product Demo Video/Snapshots

Source: Wellspring

#7. AcclaimIP 

AcclaimIP from Anaqua helps create better patents, assess the competition’s patent portfolio, and identify the most valuable patents in any portfolio. It provides a collection of search and analytics tools giving you the ability to research patent information faster, with more precision.

Key Features:

  • Speed, ease of use & global patent data
  • Quantitative patent scoring
  • Prosecution analytics

Pricing:

Offers a free trial and Customizable fee structure.

Deployment: 

Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based.

Who Needs this Software

Suitable for patent owners, patent researchers, and intellectual property law firms that require patent information research and analysis. 

Users’ Perspective

AcclaimIP has been reviewed as:

  • Intuitive and efficient
  • Search outcomes can be configured in a variety of options
  • Database updates are performed timely
  • Easy to use

Product Demo Video/Snapshots

You can learn more about AcclaimIP here in just two minutes.

#8. Innovator Enterprise

The MindMatters Solutions’ Innovator Enterprise software system is an Intellectual Property management software solution and tool designed to manage, safeguard and protect your intellectual property assets from their inception. Once entered, your invention disclosures are safeguarded within their Intellectual Property management software solution and routed only to those individuals authorized within your invention and patent review decision process to review, analyze, and decide on patent application or trade secret status. It allows you to easily manage the product-to-patent relationship so that new patents are automatically added to product descriptions and bar codes.

Key Features:

  • The snapshot feature allows users to take a “snapshot” or picture of the intellectual property at any point in time to make a permanent record of the document as of the snapshot date
  • The activity log tracks every change made to an invention disclosure or intellectual property record to provide an accurate audit trail for management 
  • Advanced security features govern the departments, locations, and individuals that have access to various types of intellectual assets 

Who Needs this Software

Suitable for corporations and universities involved in innovation, which require their entire innovations and invention process to be managed from the stage of idea inception to obtaining IP protection.

Users’ Perspective

Respironics claimed that their R&D idea submissions have tripled over the whole of the previous year with the use of Innovator Enterprise.

Product Demo Video/Snapshots

Source: MindMatters

#9. DocketTrak

DocketTrak by Decision Design Corporation is a professional docketing system. The software detects any new application you file and creates your DocketTrak record automatically. It receives USPTO e-Office action emails directly into DocketTrak. It also helps to auto calculate patent maintenance fee dates and patent expiration dates.

Key Features:

  • Easy to use
  • DocketForm form letter technology for customized email and word form letters
  • Seamless USPTO and Private PAIR integration with PAIR Connect 3.0
  • Customizable auto docketing
  • Unlimited IP records and client users
  • A daily reminder email of upcoming dockets
  • Integration with USPTO patent e-office action emails

Pricing: 

Offers a free trial.

75 USD per month. 

Deployment: 

Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based.

Who Needs this Software

It is useful for law firms and corporations which require cloud-based intellectual property management & docketing systems including reminders.

Users’ Perspective

A great easy to use IP docketing program

  • Automatically updates deadlines in the docket without the need for manual input
  • Email notifications with upcoming deadlines
  • Form generation

Product Demo Video/Snapshots

You can take a tour of the DocketTrak software here.

Wrap Up

The true value of your Intellectual Property depends on how well your organization can manage and leverage it for successful commercialization. Using these best Intellectual Property management software makes it easier to keep track of your IP filings and avoid unnecessary errors. It also provides you with insight into patent pricing and filtering ideas to eliminate wasteful ideas and focus on commercially viable inventions.

You can organize and manage your IP by selecting one of the tools above, depending on the needs of your organization, making the process quick, easy & hassle-free. As we say here at Triangle IPSay goodbye to complex IP management, say hello to the TIP Tool.’.

Disclaimer: The information in this article/review is sourced from the internet and may not be entirely accurate or up-to-date. We recommend visiting the respective software websites for the most current and reliable information. The opinions expressed here are those of the author and may not reflect the views of Triangle IP. We are not liable for any consequences that may arise from relying on the information provided in this article/review.

Best Intellectual Property Management Software

Salesforce and Jira Alternative for IP Management

“Using Excel, Jira or Salesforce for IP Management is like using a handkerchief in place of a specially designed protective mask to keep the virus away”

Many small to medium-sized enterprises who are just beginning to set up a systematic process for capturing innovation and tracking them through a complete IP life cycle often fall for make-do arrangements like:

  • Excel spreadsheets – Just because it’s versatile, you can arrange the data in tabular format and employees are familiar with its basic functionality
  • Jira – Just because it offers features like workflows, dashboards, reports and the enterprise already has some company process implemented using Jira 
  • Salesforce – same reason as Jira

What you need is not a generic tool but a specific one… 

A tool that’s affordable and tailored to assist enterprises with the patent mining process. The good news is such a tool exists. Before you explore the recommended Jira alternative for IP management let’s understand why do you need to switch.

Also read: Why managing IP using Excel spreadsheets is a bad idea?

Jira for IP Management | Shortcomings

Jira is surely customizable and may be configured to suit the specific needs of any enterprise, including marketing, finance, HR, and legal. It also has all of the features of workflows, dashboards, and reports. These features offered by Jira may be adopted or customized to aid the tracking of innovative ideas within an enterprise.

However, when it comes to IP management, beyond innovation capture, Jira does not cater to IP specific needs as listed below:

  • No intuitive intelligence for managing IP
  • No automatic syncing with the USPTO
  • Too expensive for startups
  • Too complex to use

Salesforce for IP Management | Shortcomings

Salesforce is a customer relationship management (CRM) software at its core. However,  an advantage of Salesforce is that it can be customized for different internal needs of an enterprise. The ease of customization makes it a flexible tool that may be adopted for IP management. 

However, similar to Jira, Salesforce was not designed to assist enterprises with IP management, therefore the suitability of its features may not be compared with a tool specifically designed for IP management.

Expensive to Customize

Customizing the tool to suit an enterprise’s needs takes tens to thousands of hours and comes at an additional cost. In addition, the purchase of a Salesforce license comes at a very heavy cost. With its per-user pricing model, Salesforce may be more suited to larger enterprises that rely on the software daily for the management of current and prospective customers. It may not be suitable for a startup, a small or medium-sized enterprise desiring to manage IP. This underscores the importance of securing IP in the early stages of a startup to avoid reliance on unsuitable tools.

No Integration with the USPTO PAIR

Like Jira, Salesforce also does not integrate with the USPTO’s Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system, to keep track of patent application updates like issuance of office actions.

The TIP Tool – Best Salesforce, Jira Alternative 

The TIP tool is an intuitive drag-and-drop tool to simplify the IP management process. It assists enterprises to convert their best ideas into patents, by enabling them to capture innovative ideas, vet the idea for patent registration, facilitate the secure exchange of patent drafts with patent prosecutors, and manage a patent portfolio. It is an excellent Salesforce and Jira alternative for IP management.

The TIP tool comes with a variety of useful features and functionalities. To name a special few:

Patent Analytics for Informed IP Decisions

The TIP tool comes with patent analytics that assists enterprises in managing their IP budget wisely. With the TIP tool you can easily figure out:

  • Likelihood, associated costs, and expected time of getting a patent
  • What can work with an examiner to progress the patent application towards grant
  • How is your patent application faring at the USPTO

Such insights come really handy in crafting your patent strategy.

Also Read: The 12 Essential Features of an IP Management Software

Real-Time Collaboration

The TIP tool also permits team collaboration on ideas in real-time. For example, when an inventor and attorney are discussing the patentability of an idea, the TIP tool allows them to edit the same piece of text within the software with their thoughts and inputs, in real-time.

Intuitive Invention Disclosure Form

Long and complex invention disclosure forms discourage inventors from submitting inventions for patent protection. The TIP tool offers an intuitive invention disclosure form that increases engagement from innovators. In fact, you can also customize the TIP tool’s idea capture form to suit your enterprise’s internal needs.

Role-Based Access

Furthermore, with the TIP tool, an enterprise may keep certain strategic patent portfolio data confidential, by using the role-based access feature in the software. Therefore, an innovator who is also an employee within the enterprise may be restricted from accessing ideas developed by other innovators in the enterprise.

Presented below is a table that gives you a fair idea of the benefits that come with the TIP tool – a preferred JIRA alternative.

Jira v. Salesforce v. The TIP Tool

FunctionalityJiraSalesforceThe TIP Tool
Provides an intuitive invention disclosure formCan be implementedCan be implementedYes
Tells you the likelihood of getting a patentNoNoYes
Predicts the end-to-end patent costsNoNoYes
Helps you track ideas through a complete IP lifecycleCan be partially  implemented, with no automatic updates from the USPTO Can be partially  implemented, with no automatic updates from the USPTO Yes
Automatically stays in sync with the USPTONoNoYes
Provides specific details on patent statusNoNoYes
Tells you how your application is doing at the USPTONoNoYes
PricingExpensiveExpensiveFreemium model, ~ $40 per month

Conclusion

At Triangle IP, we very well understand the needs and constraints of small to medium-sized enterprises for managing IP. The TIP tool is an intuitive drag and drop tool specially designed to aid intellectual property management, from idea capture to portfolio management. It is a must-try Jira alternative for IP management. Happy to share that we recently released the TIP Tool version 2.0 – Would you like to be an early adopter? Join us, try out the tool, share your valuable feedback with us!

Disclaimer: The information in this article/review is sourced from the internet and may not be entirely accurate or up-to-date. We recommend visiting the respective software websites for the most current and reliable information. The opinions expressed here are those of the author and may not reflect the views of Triangle IP. We are not liable for any consequences that may arise from relying on the information provided in this article/review.