The threat of patent-infringement in IT-business operations

The demand for innovative products, i.e. new consumer electronics in the IT business has become fierce due to the economic crisis in 2009. To participate in markets with new products the licensing of successful technologies is an efficient business model of partaking in high profit rates. This tendency shows in the increased license incomes of about 200 billion US$ over the last 15 years. When new technologies, generated under highest confidentiality, appear in the market, a dangerous legal and economic situation may occur, if underlying patents infringe own or third party rights. How can such risks be avoided in the forefront of technology? Guarding against infringement and sustaining the own position are extreme challenges for IP Management.