Abstract:
Patent visualisation tools (PVTs) are promoted as being able to aid patent analysis for a wide variety of strategic outcomes for intellectual property (IP) practitioners. Suppliers of these tools consider the searching, analysis and visualisation features they offer to be superior to that of free patent databases available. Whilst much is known about the ways PVTs function, and the potential they offer, there has been little work to understand how research commercialisation practices are affected by PVT use. Drawing on theories of practice, this research seeks to better understand the use of PVTs at an individual-level and an organisational-level. This was done through the use of an embedded case study. The research identified three categories of PVT users, the first being those who used them to support existing patent analysis practice for commercialisation. The second category of users used PVTs in a more strategic manner so as to identify potential new research areas. The third user type has a desire to use PVTs for more innovative data analysis, however they were still used to support existing commercialisation practices. For PVTs to be used in a more strategic manner (i.e., by users in category two), organisations need to exhibit a commitment to this change, such as through the existence of roles specialising in strategic patent analysis. However, there are barriers to this change at both the organisational and individual level. Firstly, itis difficult to change the process of research commercialisation in certain organisations, such as universities. Secondly, IP practitioners need to trust that the tool can carry out tasks in a way that is actually helpful for research commercialisation.