Oskar Block

Patent teams are often brought in after a question has already been framed: a new product needs clearance, a competitor’s patent has surfaced, or someone wants to know whether an invention has commercial value. Found late, the cost can be a delayed launch, a redesign or a damages claim. AI agents make it possible to change when those questions arise. Given a clear focus, they can follow developments across patents, products and markets, investigate relevant signals and flag exposure early, before competitors or litigation funders spot it first.

This is more than setting up alerts for new patent publications. Imagine an agent noticing that a competitor’s new product may read on part of your portfolio, or that a wave of filings is closing in on a planned launch. It can work through the first steps of the investigation and put a concrete next move on the table. The IP team sets the priorities and makes the strategic call while the problem is still cheap to fix.

Our lecture will explore how IP teams can put this into practice, from focused patent watches and scheduled research to agents that investigate developments and bring forward the next useful action. We will draw on examples from freedom to operate, competitor monitoring, portfolio defence and licensing, and discuss how the role of the IP professional changes when the work becomes more proactive.