Kodak patent auction draws low-ball offers

[gordo]

Kodak was hoping for $2.6 billion for their patent portfolio, but offers appear to range between $150-250 million. More info here:

Suitors bid low for Kodak patents: report | Reuters

Best, gordo

[Erik Nikkanen]

It must be tough to value patents. The discrepancy is huge and may be more due to Kodak's wishful thinking than to value. Also they are probably already obsolete, since innovation moves fast in the computer/electronics/software world.

I have looked a several press manufacturer patents over the years and I have to say, they are probably worthless. Many would not work and those that might, solving the problem in a different way is not too much of a stretch. For press manufacturers, who would they sell their patents to anyways. Not likely other press manufacturers.

Inventors tend to over value their efforts, while the market does not normally care. I suspect the value of patents in the high tech communications industry have a better chance of obtaining value. Any patents that are based on advanced science has more chance of being marketable. Patents based on stupidity might have some problems.

[gordo]

Sometimes it appears that patents based on stupidity actually result in products being released to the market. :-P

Best gordo

[ondemandbindery]

USA= No Manufacturing anymore. Why would anyone want to spend the money to protect something they will have no control over? They are lucky to get anything in my opinion.

JW

[Erik Nikkanen]

Sometimes it appears that patents based on stupidity actually result in products being released to the market. :-P

Best gordo

I sure hope so. :-)

[gordo]

USA= No Manufacturing anymore. Why would anyone want to spend the money to protect something they will have no control over? They are lucky to get anything in my opinion.

JW

I think the notion is that you make money by licensing the ideas/technologies embodied in the patent(s). So, in the case of Kodak, instead of companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google, paying Kodak for the use of those ideas/technologies (where applicable), those companies would now own the patents and receive revenue from licensing. If the licensing revenue of the patents do not exceed the cost of purchasing them then the value is low. If the patents are due to expire then the value is low. Owning the patent may also be used to block competition, or alter market dynamics, if licensing is withheld from selected vendors.

best, gordo