Did you know SNAP Inc, formerly Snapchat, is one of the companies aggressively acquiring other startups especially focusing on acquiring its Intellectual property? SNAP INc acquired DROP MESSAGES’ Location-based messaging patent in 2015 and eventually launched a feature wherein users could discover messages using based on their location. SNAP INC, eventually also ended up buying the entire IP portfolio of DROP MESSAGES, since DROP had once of the first patents in that space. They have also bought a chunk of IBM’s patents. Since its inception, SNAP Inc, on its own has been working on obtaining patents in Augmented reality, Emotion recognition, Video calls with commerce/payments, Audio/Acoustic fingerprinting, Object recognition, facial recognition and privacy protection. It has also acquired patents covering recognition technology for 3D selfies, eyewear having a linkage assembly. Its aggressively Intellectual property strategy and development has helped it fight off the tough competition that it faces from a social media giant like Facebook. Though the initial win may be because of the time its competitors took time to launch a product similar to snap chat, the sustenance may be very well attributed to the sound IP strategy that SNAP employed.
However small or big an idea, the protection of same through its Intellectual property has become mandatory in today’s world. The first step in protecting a Mobile app, is to see whether the same may be patent protected. Even in India, mobile apps may be patent protected. Therefore, obtaining advise from a technically sound IP attorney, is an important step before you dismiss that patent protection cannot be sought for the mobile app that you have developed.
Reach out to our attorneys at info@singhwal.com, who will help you resolve the bind you are in, help you define your Intellectual property and help develop a portfolio wherever the same may be possible.
