I was involved at patenting at IBM. IBM is very good at picking a focus area and then filing patents on every niche possible. Patent numbers are more important than quality ideas, and the VAST majority of their patents will never be used in any IBM product. So being the “leader” in blockchain patents protects their right to use ideas, but it really doesn’t mean much.
4 replies (most recent on top)
There are also groups that sit around dreaming up things to patent. Even if they have nothing to do with IBM's business. They just want numbers.
This helps explain how IBM can lead in number of patents each year but have declining revenue. Sounds like internally they are spinning their wheels the same way execs fly around the country presenting to each other.
Having a number of patents at ibm, I'll second this. IBM is not about making useful products from the patents, but trolling for patent revenue.
It's the same at Watson Health. They have no idea how to build products in this space. It was all a charade for them to lock down as many patents as possible.