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The challenge.
Gaussion’s directors knew the company had valuable IP in the original patent and in further patents which are in progress. While the original patent was filed by UCL, subsequent ones are in Gaussion’s name. But they realised that, given the complexity of the global patent system and rapid developments in battery technology, they needed professional advice on how best to protect their IP and knowledge-based intangibles and how to implement a long-term IP strategy to drive growth.
The solution.
As part of the TDAP program, Gaussion used Inngot’s Goldseam online tool to identify and catalogue both its registered IP rights and its intangible assets, including ‘knowhow’, copyright protected works and data. The TDAP program also includes a bespoke IP audit from Inngot’s team, which consists of an online meeting, desk research and a comprehensive report.
Dr Tom Heenan, Gaussion’s CEO, says: “Patent law and patent strategy in general gets very complicated very quickly, but the Inngot team explained things in ways that made sense. That’s probably the most important thing when you’re dealing with complex IP issues.”
Since it spun out from UCL, Gaussion has been working with patent agents Mewburn Ellis to file a number of new patents under its own name, and also register new trade marks. Inngot also suggested that Gaussion engaged Mewburn Ellis directly, rather than via the university, to handle communications relating to the original UCL patent, as well as any new ones.
Gaussion’s innovative approach to battery technology involves exploiting the interactions of charged particles with magnetic fields. The age of the battery doesn’t matter – as Dr Heenan says: “It’s agnostic to whether it’s an old cell that was made 10 years ago, or a new cell that’s going to be made in 10 years’ time.”
“One key thing Inngot taught us was to take control of the patent prosecution ourselves. That came about because Inngot’s research identified some problems involving key communications between the EPO and UCL’s patent lawyers. Inngot advised us to make sure that Gaussion were in control of the patent prosecution process”
The result.
Overall, Dr Heenan says, the Inngot report was “very comprehensive and well thought-out, especially given the time and resource constraints of the project duration! In terms of the content and quality, it was brilliant. I definitely recommend Inngot.”
One route forward for Gaussion now will be licensing, he adds: “Any company that interacts with batteries could be interested in licensing our technology – Gigafactories, car manufacturers, phone manufacturers, laptops… anyone in those kinds of industries could be licensees for us.”
