Unified Patents Launches Analog Semiconductor Protection Zone, Attracts Numerous Industry Leaders and Innovators.
This new zone brings together a fast-growing network of members to proactively reduce NPE activity in the Analog Semiconductor Sector in response to the increased NPE assertions focused on analog chips.
San Jose, Calif. – June 10, 2022 – Unified Patents LLC, the world’s only membership organization dedicated to deterring Non-Practicing Entity (NPE) activity, today announced the launch of its Analog Semiconductor Zone, which seeks to deter unsubstantiated or invalid patent assertions on technologies related to the ever-growing industry.
Semiconductor companies of all sizes are encouraged to apply for membership in the zone, with complimentary membership for small-sized businesses and scaled pricing based on revenue for larger organizations. Membership already includes numerous industry leaders.
The Analog Semiconductor Zone comprises members that innovate in, among other things, microcontrollers, oscillators, diodes, communications-related chips, power ICs, regulators, USB power, audio-related chips, and sensor-related chips. Unified Patents’ latest zone accompanies its others, including cloud, content, IoT, mobile, retail, transactions, transport, cybersecurity, and networking.
Over the last year, semiconductor and supply chain shortages have made headlines. Both have led to inflation and raised concerns about economic corrections. Chip shortages have been blamed for many of the supply chain issues, as they are necessary for so many different products now, from lightbulbs to automobiles. Though most would assume complex chips drive the shortages, in truth many of the supply chain issues are the result of analog chips. That, coupled with the relative ease of proving infringement and the ready availability of patents to license, has led NPEs to focus more resources on asserting against the analog industry. Click on the image below to review the data.
To put this issue in perspective, the top-20 plaintiffs—the frequent filers and notorious aggregators—account for nearly 60% of all analog semiconductor cases.
"As an independent third party, we continue to see great success in deterring patent trolls and killing bad patents” said Kevin Jakel, CEO at Unified Patents. “We are pleased that some of the largest companies in the industry are members of Unified Patents’ new Analog Semiconductor Zone, as this aids both large and small organizations in coming together to fight the sustained IP risk in the industry. The rise and availability of litigation finance has only made that risk more pronounced. General counsel repeatedly praise Unified Patents’ work, which provides lasting value through powerful, ongoing NPE deterrence activities lauded by C-Level management and board members.”
The Analog Semiconductor Zone offers all semiconductor-related companies an opportunity to invest in an impactful and results-oriented organization. Unified Patents never pays any money to NPEs, whether to purchase licenses or otherwise. This ensures that Unified never incentivizes further NPE activity. By focusing on independent deterrence, Unified is never in the conflicted position of negotiating a licensing deal between NPEs and defendants in litigation.
About Unified Patents
Founded in 2012, Unified Patents is an international membership organization that seeks to improve patent quality and deter unsubstantiated or invalid patent assertions in defined technology sectors (Zones) through its activities. As a deterrence entity, its actions focus on substantial assertions by Standards Essential Patents (SEP) holders and/or Non-Practicing Entities (NPEs). These actions may include analytics, prior art, invalidity contests, patentability analysis, administrative patent review (PTAB), amicus briefs, economic surveys, and essentiality studies. Unified works independently of its members to achieve its deterrence goals. Small members join for free, while larger organizations pay modest annual fees. Visit www.unifiedpatents.com.
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Unified Patents, LLC
VP, Head of Client Relations and Business Development