Power of the Pen: Intellectual Property Analysis of Helferich Patent Licensing

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Helferich Patent Licensing, an ambitious non-operating entity, has sued numerous corporations, but recently took aim on the media industry. Helferich has filed a patent infringement suit, using a patent that recently had 65 new claims added in a patent reexamination procedure in December 2011. Perhaps its time that the media use the power of the pen to shed more light on a system that continues to allow jobs-killing, anti-growth, anti-business behavior?

Ever heard of Helferich Patent Licensing?

In a perfect world, where nefarious activities were illuminated without regard to whose wallet was damaged, you would have.

But that’s not the world we live in.

Helferich Patent Licensing LLC, a non-operating entity, has either sued or signed licensing agreements with at least forty of the top companies in news, computing, mobile communications, department stores, and sports.

How can one company sue such a broad array of companies? Well, it’s not because they’re Intellectual Ventures... maybe. It’s because they basically claim ownership of sending content to a mobile device. That’s right, because when you think of mobile communications, a company called Helferich Patent Licensing instantly springs to mind, doesn’t it?

So why isn’t this name familiar, even though it has sued media companies including the New York Times and CBS? Even though Mark Twain famously reminded readers to “never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel,” the media has yet to utilize their biggest asset- their audience. Because any company that communicates with their customers via mobile communication could be on Helferich’s hit list, the media industry could build a large consortium to attack Helferich.

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