Competitive Intelligence - search patent and trademark filings

Every wonder where your competitor's technology is headed? Search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's patent and trademark databases. Or, how about the European Patent Office's patent database. Or, go to one of the many links to other country intellectual property offices.

Example: eWeek article "Intel's Mystery Mark, VIIV, Sparks Intrigue."

Recent trademark filings from Intel Corp. are raising speculation that the world's largest chip maker may be preparing to create a new global brand. The question is, what does VIIV mean?

"Intel Inside VIIV" and "Intel VIIV" were filed as U.S. trademarks last month by the Santa Clara, California-based chip maker, known for its Pentium and Centrino brands. A square graphic, resembling an inkblot or a starfield, was also filed around the same time.

Competitive Intelligence resources:

Competitive Intelligence and the Internet: Going for the Gold

Patent and trademark knowledge offers valuable early warning for a competitor's future direction. Today, your competitors are patenting and naming the technologies, products and services they will be marketing in just a few years.

Competitive Intelligence: A Librarian's Empirical Approach (PDF)

Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals