For some companies, it’s become a lifeline. They can’t raise money any other way. Banks aren’t lending. Investors have become skittish. So, over the past six months, a growing number of cash-strapped startups have begun selling their patents. And they’re not the only ones. More and more companies of all sizes are seeking to weather these tough economic times by selling patents.
“Since September, I’ve seen a lot more patents being offered for sale–better quality patents, across all types of industries,” says Don Merino, general manager of acquisitions for Intellectual Ventures, one of the world’s largest patent licensing firms.
