IPscore now in Excel
New version of IPscore released
IPscore is a methodology and tool that allows you to evaluate patents, technologies and research projects. It was developed by the Danish Patent Office, and has been adapted and is distributed by the EPO. A new version of this tool was released recently.
The most significant change in the latest version, IPscore 3.0, is that it is based on Microsoft Excel. This transition to a familiar and widely-used platform makes IPscore accessible to a broader range of users and makes it more user-friendly.
The core principles of IPscore remain unchanged, and the evaluation for most questions is made on the basis of the best matching answer selected from a dropdown menu.
Fig. 1: Using a dropdown menu to select the best matching answer in IPscore 3.0
But now, for answers that are numerical values, you can enter numbers of your choosing, e.g. specific values, percentages or fractions of years for the time to market. You do this instead of selecting the closest numerical values from a predefined list, as was previously the case. This makes the evaluations more precise, realistic and personalised.
Fig. 2: Entering numerical values in IPscore 3.0
For the display in the radar charts, the numerical value you enter is mapped by IPscore 3.0 to a 1 to 5 point system (5 being the best possible answer) according to its relative position within preestablished limits.
As before, the set of predefined answers can be reworded or adapted according to specific needs using the Adaptation of questions and answers section in each input category.
Fig. 3: Adapting questions, explanations and answers in IPscore 3.0
The output of IPscore helps to compare different inventions and draw conclusions about which patents to discontinue and which to maintain.
Radar charts help to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the evaluated inventions.
Fig. 4: Legal status radar chart
The patent account forecast chart estimates the financial development achievable by exploiting the patented technology.
Fig. 5: Patent accounts forecast chart
The opportunity/risk matrix offers a visual representation of how a patent is positioned according to its score in risk and opportunity assessment factors. It allows you to examine and compare the evaluated patents or development projects in a portfolio matrix.
Fig. 6: Opportunity/risk matrix
By assessing each invention against a common set of criteria, IPscore enables a more systematic and comprehensive analysis of smaller patent portfolios.
Further information
IPscore webpage with download
IPscore 3.0 release notes
IPscore 3.0 manual
Patent Knowledge Nugget – IPscore 3.0
Keywords: IPscore, patent evaluation