Example reflection- Visualization

Challenge

I work in a legal department of a research centre. Making a robust product in strict timelines in a  highly regulated field is a challenge in itself. With lot of factors affecting quality of product and so  many variables to control, scientists face many challenges in making a robust product. Intellectual  property (IP)/patents adds further to the complexity of the product. Patents are exclusive rights  granted for new inventions. These rights are enforceable and can lead to lot of litigation cost in case  of infringement. We need to overcome patents for a successful product.

Working at the intersection of legal and technical involves implementing IP-compliant as well as  technically feasible strategies. My work involves explaining the legal boundaries of Intellectual  property (IP)/patent around the product to various stakeholders and come out with IP-compliant  strategies. We face challenge in explaining scientists about scope of a patent and also in motivating  them to overcome IP as it will result in a legally fool proof product. The inability of a scientific mind  to understand legal repercussions of a strategy, often results in a tussle. We are facing issues of non- compliance of IP preferred strategy leading to increased cost in litigation. Scientist tend to outright  ridicule the IP preferred strategy at the outset.

Our challenge is to clearly explain the protection of IP and whitespace the scientist can work in and  finding issues that is leading to non-compliance to IP preferred strategy and reason of lack of  motivation.

Selection

We decided to use visualization tool to explain the scope of intellectual property. The product  involved a complex intellectual property/patent landscape with overlapping scope. Visualization  could help them to understand the patent and product and visualize a green space.

Application

We used a slide deck to show relevant snippets of text from the patent document on which we were  basing our (IP) recommendations. This allowed us to make the stakeholders understand the basis of  our recommendation and also avoided them to have their own interpretations. It was very easy to  make them understand reasons of IP recommendations.

We showed IP protected/ claimed space in red and help them visualize green space scientist can  work upon.

A simple representation of what tried to make them visualize:

After explaining this, we mapped their strategy with the claimed space.

Using description of a product and then relating it to patent we could show monetary advantages  that will result if we have an IP compliant strategy in place. It also helped them to demarcate Patent  1 and Patent 2 and think around a strategy that is suitable as whole.

Insight & Approach

With diverse team looking at the landscape we gained more than usual technical understanding of  product. It resulted in more knowledge sharing among the team. We got insights from practical  knowledge of the scientist and this helped us to find some lacuna or white-space ourselves.  Concerns of scientist were different than what we expected and we got other team to answer their  concerns. The teams were better aligned on designing strategies for the product.

A clear understanding triggered a very constructive discussion around various aspects of products  and to our amazement it lead to multiple ways of formulating IP preferred strategies.

We learned through this exercise that we need to look at the product as a whole and including other  team on the table will help us in making a better product.

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Example reflection- Visualization Challenge I work in a legal department of a research centre . Making a robust product in strict timelines in a highly regulated field is a challenge in itself . With lot of factors affecting quality of product and so many variables to control , scientists face many challenges in making a robust product . Intellectual property ( IP)/patents adds further to the complexity of the product . Patents are exclusive rights granted for new inventions . These rights are enforceable and can lead to lot of litigation cost in case of infringement . We need to overcome patents for a successful product . Working at the intersection of legal and technical involves implementing IP - compliant as well as technically feasible strategies . My work involves explaining the legal boundaries of Intellectual property ( IP)/patent around the product to various stakeholders and come out with IP - compliant strategies . We face challenge in explaining scientists about scope of a patent and also in motivating them to overcome IP as it will result in a legally fool proof product . The inability of a scientific mind to understand legal repercussions of a strategy , often results in a tussle . We are facing issues of non- compliance of IP preferred strategy leading to increased cost in litigation . Scientist tend to outright ridicule the IP preferred strategy at the outset . Our challenge is to clearly explain the protection of IP and whitespace the scientist can work in and finding issues that is leading to non - compliance to IP preferred strategy and reason of lack of motivation . Selection We decided to use visualization tool to explain the scope of intellectual property . The product involved a complex intellectual property / patent landscape with overlapping scope . Visualization could help them to understand the patent and product and visualize a green space . Application We used a slide deck to show relevant snippets of text from the patent document on which we were basing our ( IP ) recommendations . This allowed us to make the stakeholders understand the basis of our recommendation and also avoided them to have their own interpretations . It was very easy to make them understand reasons of IP recommendations . We showed IP protected/ claimed space in red and help them visualize green space scientist can work upon . A simple representation of what tried to make them visualize : After explaining this , we mapped their strategy with the claimed space . Using description of a product and then relating it to patent we could show monetary advantages that will result if we have an IP compliant strategy in place . It also helped them to demarcate Patent 1 and Patent 2 and think around a strategy that is suitable as whole . Insight & Approach With diverse team looking at the landscape we gained more than usual technical understanding of product . It resulted in more knowledge sharing among the team . We got insights from practical knowledge of the scientist and this helped us to find some lacuna or white - space ourselves . Concerns of scientist were different than what we expected and we got other team to answer their concerns . The teams were better aligned on designing strategies for the product . A clear understanding triggered a very constructive discussion around various aspects of products and to our amazement it lead to multiple ways of formulating IP preferred strategies . We learned through this exercise that we need to look at the product as a whole and including other team on the table will help us in making a better product . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *