Plan to provide transparency into the workings of Intellectual Ventures announced

Intellectual Ventures is perhaps the most notorious of the NPEs, Non-practicing Entities, or “patent trolls.” Intellectual Asset Management reports the company owns over 40,000 technology patents and controls over 1,200 shell companies. Heretofore, one of the tools at IV’s disposal has been the lack of transparency into its operations.  Companies cannot plan for a confrontation with IV, as they don’t have adequate visibility.

Now Matthew Rappaport, Managing Director of IP Checkups, has announced plans to offer, for free access by anyone who wants it, a database of details on the IV patents and companies that hold them. IP valuators and managers can follow his progress here.