Patent Reviews and WIKI

We recently discussed Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Trade Secrets in our class. We have also discussed the strategic importance of each. We learned from our guest speaker that there is quite a backlog at the patent office.

We have also discussed collaboration, and the importance of collaboration to innovation. One of the tools for collaboration is the WIKI

A recent article in FORTUNE entitled: "Patent Review Goes WIKI" suggested that one of the ways to reduce the backlog is to use a WIKI. MICROSOFT and IBM both endorse the concept according to the article.

What do you think of the concept?

What is your favorite use of a WIKI?

What do you think about using WIKIs for Innovation?

Gene A. Wright

Web access for autos goes on the road

This posting was contributed by a student who could not make it to class. Thank you Mike.

We have been talking about new technology and its adoption as well as challenges. This article introduces us to an inevitable innovation which is Web Access for Autos.

Web Access for Autos

The article goes on to talk about the fact that 14% of prospective drivers under 30 are looking for web and email access in their car. The article promises "explosive changes". Humm.

Whare are some of the challenges with introducing this technology?

Anything GOOGLE should introduce for this application? GOOGLE AUTO?

Gene A. Wright

Trademarks

Trademarks

This week we will be talking about trademarks as well as other intellectual property. Seth Godin has written a blog post regarding "What every entrepreneur, geek, brand manager and marketer needs to know about trademarks...".

Yes, the article does talk about the iPod[TM]as we have in class. He also goes on to discuss a number of other common terms as well.

How important are trademarks?

Where do you think decisions on trademarks should be made in the innovation process?

Gene A. Wright

GOOGLE's New Product Process

An article in Business Week gives us some insight into GOOGLE's New Product Development process.

The article "Inside GOOGLE's New Product Process" talks a bit about strategy as well as some ideas about what might be next.

What do you think?

Are they effective at developing new products? What makes it effective, or not?

What are the Lessons Learned?

Gene A. Wright

Open Innovation and Collaborative Development

Open Innovation is getting "in the news" once again, mostly because it seems, because of "Open Source. The concept however, has been around for a while.

This McKinsey Quarterly article "Creation nets: Getting the most from Open Innovation" talks about a number of examples as well as a bit of the history. NOTE: You may need to register for a newsletter to read this article.

We can also learn a bit more about "Open Innovation" from the PDMA Blog. In fact, PDMA's Blog has a category on Open Innovation.

What do you think about "Open Innovation"?

Do you see "Open Innovation" growing in concept and usage, or rather, do you see it falling from favor because of the "security" and IP issues? Why?

Gene A. Wright

GOOGLE's Position on Making Design Simple

Forbes' article entiltled "GOOGLE's Simple Life" discusses their plans for growth in terms of products and services, however, they approach the design of their interfaces and products as "easy to use".

What do you thik of this design philosophy?

How will GOOGLE fare?

Gene A. Wright

Strategic Brand Building and Product Development

Check out this posting regarding the alliance between APPLE, MOTOROLA, DISNEY, and Cingular. (The title above is the link)

What do you think of these companies as collaborators in Product Development?

How strategic is this?

Why can this work?

Why might it not work?

Gene A. Wright

iPod's Closed System

One of the big questions a Technology Strategist needs to ask and answer is if they want their product or service for that matter, to be part of a "closed" or "open" system.

An article in FORTUNE by Devin Leonard entitled "The Player" talks about the decisions that APPLE has made related to this topic.

APPLE is famous for its closed system decisions. The article states (March 20, 2006) that iPod now has 73% of the market. A number estimated by Fulcrum Global Partners.

The iTunes and iPod system has been a tremendous success.

What do you think about "closed" systems?

Gene A. Wright

Disney Videos Via iTunes

A student in our class as sent me a "snipette" as a follow-up to the factoid and discussion that iTunes is now selling Disney Videos. A news story "Disney Sells Films Through iTunes Store" tells us that "they have already sold 125,000 Disney videos and generated a million dollars in a week."

The story tells us that "Disney expects revenue of $50 million in the first year from its iTunes partnership".

Is this a trend in "strategic technology partnerships"?

Should this kind of activity be part of a Strategic Technology Plan?

Gene A. Wright

Design and Innovation

As we discuss the "sources of innovation" we often wonder where do the innovative ideas and designs come from. We often think of APPLE and that one of their core competencies is design. A Business Week article in September 25, 2006 issue called "The Man behind Apple's Design Magic" introduces us to Johnathan Ive, APPLE Senior Vice President for Industrial Design. The article also talks about Steve Jobs as one of "Apple's most unique weapons". Also it states that "design can be a valid business model".

What do you think?

Is APPLE better at "design" and innovation than their competitors?

What is the role of "Job's high standards"?

You also might find the "slide show" ("An Ive for Design")in the article context interesting.

Another interesting link is to "Why you love your iPod".

Gene A. Wright