Ocean Tomo Patent Auctions: A New Form of Open Innovation

There's been a fair amount of press in the past few years about the emerging concept of 'open innovation'. Popularized by Henry Chesbrough in the book by the same name, it's based on the concept of insourcing I/P and technologies from outside the company, and creating value for the company's unused I/P through licensing out technologies and creating spin-outs.

If you ever doubted that the trend is real, look no further than the upcoming Ocean Tomo Patent Auctions as proof of this growing trend.

In October, Ocean Tomo is holding its third live patent auction, with gavel, fast-talking auctioneer and all. Ocean Tomo is in essence enabling a marketplace for I/P with these auctions. While I'm sure some of the buyers of these patents are likely to be "patent trolls" intent on capturing value from enforcing patents, the majority of these patents are likely to be purchased by investor groups, start-ups and large companies looking for new platforms for growth.

What do you think? Is this a positive trend in your eyes?