Intellectual property brokering
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A intellectual property broker mediates between the buyer and seller of software intellectual property and may manage the many steps in the process of creating a deal.
Pioneering software developers are faced with several alternatives to making their software a commercial success. They can build their own start up company from scratch using their own resources. They can seek government grants (SBIR or STTR) to fund the early stage development of their technology. They can contract with third parties with Venture Capital or Angel Investors to finance a startup or they can sell or license their products to an existing and established software company. Often software companies are interested in expanding their own intellectual property assets through licensing and acquisitions. Sometimes it is useful to think of the sellers and buyers as authors and publishers.
In bringing buyers and sellers together, a Software Broker may provide any or all of the following services:
- initial due diligence
- technology assessment
- market analysis
- value analysis
- competitive analysis
- lead development
- introductions
- lead management
- contract negotiations
- relationship management
