This book is about the successful management and leadership of a patent factory and considers the organisational structures and modes of operation required. This involves providing clear direction and meaningful vision to all parts of an organisation, deploying and then controlling resources, be that people, money, or physical and intangible assets.

Drawing from the experience and insights of the author, this book guides the reader and provides advice about how best to arrange the human resources available to optimise the effectiveness and efficiency of the organisation. It then looks at which tasks are best conducted internally as opposed to outsourcing and what sort of organisation structures and formats work best. Decisions then need to be made on the key processes and the tools that are needed to be put in place. It highlights the key issues for consideration, the options available and the decision making process as well as the opportunities and challenges that exist at each stage of this journey towards setting up a successful patent factory.

"Donal O'Connell makes a dramatic contribution to the literature through the ideas and constructs detailed in Inside the Patent Factory. His writing lilt and clarity transform an idiosyncratic legal art into an explicit process that can be proactively managed to realize the competitive advantages of patents. Any innovation professional can use this guide to logically organize, operate and measure the intellectual property related activities at their firm. Kudos to Donal and his publisher for bringing this important information resource to market." - James G. Conley

"The unique characteristic of this book is that it provides handson guidance to manage patent creation in a company or a research instit5ute. The author's long experience in leading patent creation within a major company is positively visible throughout the book." - Yrjo Neuvo

"This book looks at factors which can help to formulate a patent strategy looking at various options available to small and large sized companies who each may need a completely alternative approach. I believe this book would be of value to any company looking at altering its existing patent strategy or creating one; in addition I feel this book would be of value to technologists who are seeking some awareness of patent strategy." - John Samuels

A fundamental change in the way organisations approach innovation is taking place. It is driven by the simple realisation that not all the smart people work for just one organisation. Few intellectual property books concentrate on external innovation and more particularly on dealing with external inventors and handling their inventions. Harvesting External Innovation begins by examining the broad subject of innovation, stressing the need to understand its forms and phases, ways and means to encourage innovation. It then addresses the growing phenomenon of external innovation. A number of different approaches to engaging with the external innovator community are then considered, together with real life case studies. Harvesting External Innovation discusses in depth how best to handle intellectual property matters, how to actually work with these external inventors and how to handle their inventions, including a suggested process and check list.

A fundamental change in the way organisations approach innovation is taking place. It is driven by the simple realisation that not all the smart people work for just one organisation. Few intellectual property books concentrate on external innovation and more particularly on dealing with external inventors and handling their inventions. Harvesting External Innovation begins by examining the broad subject of innovation, stressing the need to understand its forms and phases, ways and means to encourage innovation. It then addresses the growing phenomenon of external innovation. A number of different approaches to engaging with the external innovator community are then considered, together with real life case studies. Harvesting External Innovation discusses in depth how best to handle intellectual property matters, how to actually work with these external inventors and how to handle their inventions, including a suggested process and check list.

Within are lines from the experience of living a human life by taking some chances, breaking some rules and not always settling for the safe options in conformity.