Auction firm Ocean Tomo was behind the sale. The firm is a
pioneer of live intellectual property auctions, having already held
such sales in New York and Chicago in the past year. Intellectual
property is more commonly the subject of trade sales or private
deals, but the auctioning of IP in lots could commoditise IP
assets.
The star of the London auction was Lot 19A, 'Methods for
internet shopping with a one-stop shopping cart'. Filed in 1997 by
a New Zealand mother of three, the patent is for technology which
allows a shopper to search for goods in the databases of several
shops through one website.
"It is believed that this patented technology is critical for
developing and controlling access to the online consumer," said the
auction brochure in describing
US patent number 5,895,454.
The patent was sold for £2,475,000, more than five times the sum
generated by the next most valuable item. It was the highest price
ever paid for a patent at a live multi-lot auction.
The patent was used against Shop.com in a case that was settled
in 2006 following a Markman ruling. Markman rulings assert that it
is for a judge, not a jury, to interpret a patent claim.
The next highest price paid in London was £440,000, for a patent
for pieces of technology which are 'wireless communications
audiovisual messaging techniques'. The inventor is a Finnish PhD
student who founded a wireless software development firm.
His technology is designed to enable text messages to have an
audiovisual component.
Ocean Tomo said that it plans to hold US auctions in spring and
autumn and European auctions in summer. "We are extremely
encouraged by the overwhelming support from the European IP
community. Companies and inventors are already submitting IP for
our next European auction just days after last week’s event," said
Andrew Ramer, president of Ocean Tomo.
The London auction was staged with the help of classic car
auction specialists Gooding & Co. "Intellectual property
auctions are rapidly developing into a world-recognized marketplace
where IP can be sold not only efficiently but at world record
prices," said Gooding & Co's David Gooding.
