What is a Patent Landscape Analysis Report?

Patent landscape analysis is a step-by-step procedure for researching an existing technology and marketing trends in a particular domain. It offers valuable insights into innovations or patent data that contains business, scientific, and technological trends. As a result, it is focused on a specific technology both at the national and global level. The patent landscape analysis report includes technical analytics used by startups, large corporations, research institutions, and firms for prospective product development and technology investment. It is also known as patent mapping.

It also aids in the understanding of policy decisions, strategic planning, R&D, and technology transfer. They are also useful in determining the legal status of patents to determine their validity. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) specifies a format for framing a patent landscape. A report may also include 3D maps, charts, and other graphical elements. Artificial intelligence is now increasingly being used in the process.

Patent Landscape Analysis Report

A patent landscape analysis report, also known as a state-of-the-art report, is designed to extract useful insights about the patenting activities of a particular technology in a specific geographical location(s). “Patent landscape reports (PLRs) provide a snapshot of the patent situation of a specific technology, either within a given country or region, or globally,” according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Moreover, they can help inform policy debates, strategic research planning, and technology transfer. Further, they can also be used to evaluate the validity of patents based on legal status data. 

How does one go about conducting a patent landscape analysis? 

Step 1: Conduct technical research on your topic. 

The formation of a patent landscape analysis report begins with a thorough comprehension of the technology or familiarity with the relevant technology. Generally, the best way to understand a specific technology is to read relevant online resources and news about that technology. For example, if you want a landscape analysis report on “Flexible Electronic Display,” the first step is to understand how a flexible electronic display works and how it differs from LED and/or LCD. What are the various layers that it is made up of, and how can the technology benefit end users? 

Such information can be obtained from a variety of sources, including blogs, newspaper cuttings, press releases, and other online publications. For example, if you want to learn more about flexible electronic display technology and how it works, the links provided below can be helpful. 

• http://www.samsunggeeks.com/2012/12/03/flexible-displays-what-are-they-and-how-do-they-work/ 
• http://press.ihs.com/press-release/design-supply-chain/flexible-display-market-reach-nearly-800-million-unit-shipments-20 
• http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/oled1.htm 
• http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/03/wistron-reportedly-closes-polymer-vision/ 

Though these are not directly linked to your patent landscape analysis report, you will be able to obtain some useful insights about the technology that can help you generate an exceptional landscape analysis report later on. 

Step 2: Determine the client’s requirements. 

Landscape reports come in a variety of formats, so there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution for every report. As a result, it is critical to understand what your specific client is looking for, and you must tailor your landscape report accordingly. 

For example, some clients will be interested in the patent activities in that technology in a specific geography or location, while some will be concerned only with the portfolios of those businesses that are patenting in that domain, while others will be looking for investment opportunities in that technology domain, and still some will want to know how involved their competitors are in that technology domain. 

Whatever the case may be, you must first understand your client’s needs and then proceed accordingly. 

Step 3: Establish the scope of your landscape search. 

Defining the scope of a patent landscape search is critical in the overall report generation process, since without it, you could end up with mountains of meaningless data. The scope of your report determines how precise and accurate it will be. The scope of the patent landscape analysis report can be evaluated using a number of parameters, some of which are listed below: 

• Country coverage 
• Time period coverage 
• Patent family coverage 
• Technology coverage 
• Sub-technology coverage 

Step 4: Create a patent search strategy for locating documents. 

Another critical element that should be addressed by patent analysis is the formulation of a patent search strategy, in which they must define multiple patent and non-patent sources to gather the relevant data. Data can be obtained from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the European Patent Office (EPO) or Korean Patent Office Search (KIPRIS). The databases mentioned are country-specific free patent search websites/databases/patent search engines that are available without any charge. Aside from that, there are numerous paid databases like XLSCOUT, Clarivate, etc. that a searcher can use to make their search more appropriate, accurate, and comprehensive. 

Step 5: Sort the collections into various categories. 

The next step is to categorize the extracted data into various facets so that you can evaluate it according to the requirements of the report. For example, in the case of flexible electronic display technology, data can be classified as follows: 

• Leading Manufacturers 
• Companies to watch for 
• Flexible display patent filings by year 
• Flexible display filings by the top 10 companies 
• Patents by filing type (electronic device, display component, display panel) 

Step 6: Prepare a report with statistical data. 

The final and most important aspect of conducting a landscape analysis is to generate a comprehensive report. In this report, we are supposed to create a document that is easily understood and consumed by human users. In general, the best way to do so is to include statistical graphs and figures.

Our Methodology

XLSCOUT’s AI-powered patent analytics tools leverage explainable AI-based technologies to help businesses discover relevant technical information quickly. With XLSCOUT, it is ever so easier now to compare and analyze technology trends over time. You can now view and compare the latest trends in a specific technology using graphical dashboards and insightful landscape reports. Moreover, you can also identify the changes in competitor strategies.