Patents in Decentralized Ledger and Smart Contract Tech
18 patents in this list
Updated:
The intersection of blockchain and intellectual property has created significant technical challenges in patent administration. Traditional patent systems rely on centralized authorities and manual processes that can take 2-3 years for examination, while managing over 3.3 million active patents globally. These systems struggle with verification bottlenecks, cross-border coordination, and real-time tracking of patent rights.
The core challenge lies in creating decentralized systems that can maintain the legal validity of patent rights while enabling automated examination, licensing, and enforcement.
This page brings together solutions from recent research—including blockchain-based patent validation networks, NFT-enabled licensing systems, smart contract automation for annuity payments, and distributed verification protocols. These and other approaches focus on practical implementations that can integrate with existing legal frameworks while improving efficiency and transparency in patent administration.
1. Decentralized Blockchain System for Issuing Smart Contracts with Distributed Validator Network
Capital One Services, LLC, 2023
A decentralized blockchain system for issuing smart contracts as an alternative to centralized patent examination systems. This system utilizes a distributed network of validators to review and grant smart contracts that confer patent-like rights. Validators are incentivized to participate through token rewards for each successful contract validation, ensuring a transparent and efficient process for granting intellectual property rights.
2. Distributed Ledger System with Asset Search, Owner Communication, and Transaction Recording Capabilities
RAYMOND ANTHONY JOAO, 2023
A distributed ledger and blockchain system designed to enhance transparency and security for transactions involving high-value assets, such as real estate, intellectual property, digital art, and NFTs. The system enables users to search for and locate assets, communicate directly with owners, access public records, and record transaction details on the blockchain. This approach ensures transparency, reduces fraud, and facilitates direct peer-to-peer transactions.
3. Distributed Ledger System with Smart Contract Wrapper for Dynamic Execution and Intellectual Property Management
Strong Force TX Portfolio 2018, LLC, 2023
Enabling efficient, scalable, and automated transactions through distributed ledger technology and smart contracts. The system uses a smart contract wrapper that interacts with a distributed ledger to access contract terms and data values. This wrapper interprets access requests, grants data access, and enforces contract terms. It supports dynamic contract execution and modifications. Additionally, the system manages and licenses intellectual property assets using smart contracts recorded on the distributed ledger.
4. Blockchain-Based System for Automated Patent Annuity Payment Management and Renewal Tracking
ERICH LAWSON SPANGENBERG, DANIEL LAWRENCE BORK, PASCAL ASSELOT, 2023
System for managing patent annuity payments and renewals using blockchain and smart contracts to automate and track patent renewals. The system provides automated patent verification, payment planning, cost optimization, funding options, and payment monitoring. It uses a blockchain network to securely store patent data, execute payments, and provide transparency. The system aims to prevent missed annuity payments and abandonment by providing a comprehensive platform to manage and fund global patent renewals.
5. Blockchain-Based System for Patent Licensing Automation Using Non-Fungible Tokens and Smart Contracts
Caerus Institute LLC, 2023
Automating the licensing of patented technologies using blockchains and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This involves creating an NFT representing a patent, recording licensing terms in a smart contract, and using the blockchain to track and enforce licensing agreements. The NFTs can be transferred, sold, or licensed like physical assets, enabling automated patent licensing and monetization.
6. Blockchain-Based System for Digital Content Copyright Authentication Using Hash-Stamped Registration
BRAINCOLLA INC., 2023
Protecting copyright for digital content using blockchain technology to authenticate the original copyright holder. The system involves registering completed units of original works, generating hash values with time information for each unit, and storing them in a blockchain. This enables tracking the original source of registered works, detecting copied works, and protecting the copyrights.
7. Blockchain-Based System for Storing and Tracing Patent Data with Secure Ownership and Record Verification
ERICH LAWSON SPANGENBERG, 2022
Using blockchain to store and trace patent data to improve patent management. The blockchain provides a secure and transparent way to register and track patents. It allows secure transfer of patent ownership, prevents tampering of patent records, enables public verification of patent existence and ownership, and facilitates licensing and monetization of patents.
8. Blockchain System for Patent-Linked Crowdfunding with Coin-Based Valuation and Investment Mechanism
Sung Yong LEE, 2022
A blockchain-based crowdfunding platform that connects inventors with investors to enable industrializing patents and technologies. The platform issues value coins based on patent valuation and funding amounts. Investors can fund patents using electronic coins, with successful commercialization yielding returns in electronic and value coins.
9. Blockchain-Based System for Storing and Tracing Patent Data with Chain of Custody Verification
Erich Lawson Spangenberg, Daniel Lawrence Bork, 2022
Using blockchain to store, secure, and trace patent data to provide a chain of custody solution for public patent data records. The solution leverages blockchain's transparency, immutability, and decentralized nature to ensure reliable patent provenance and ownership verification. This has applications in patent management, licensing, and monetization.
10. Digital Content Embedding of Blockchain-Retrievable Copyright Information Using Function Word-Based Unique Identifier
Advanced New Technologies Co., Ltd., 2022
Embedding copyright information in digital content in a way that allows retrieval of the copyright information from a blockchain. The technique involves generating a unique ID based on copyright information, and then embedding the ID in function words of the content. This allows the copyright information to be invisibly stored in the content for identification purposes, without altering its appearance. The ID can be used to retrieve copyright details from the blockchain.
11. Consortium Blockchain Network for Decentralized Storage of Copyright Event Records
Advanced New Technologies Co., Ltd., 2021
Storing copyright event records on a consortium blockchain network to provide tamper-proof and verifiable copyright event tracking. Work service providers form a consortium blockchain where each provider operates a network node. When a provider generates a copyright event, it constructs a transaction documenting the event and broadcasts it on the consortium blockchain. All nodes add the transaction to their copies of the blockchain via consensus. This decentralized storage ensures integrity and authenticity of copyright event records compared to centralized providers.
12. Blockchain-Based Copyright Share Allocation System Using Co-Creation Behavior Data and Smart Contract Execution
Advanced New Technologies Co., Ltd., 2021
Allocating copyright shares in a blockchain-based work based on co-creation behavior data. The method involves obtaining a target transaction with co-creation data from the blockchain, then executing a smart contract to allocate a copyright share to the co-creator based on their participation.
13. Blockchain-Based System for Distributing Copyright Earnings Using Virtual Resource Transactions
Advanced New Technologies Co., Ltd., 2021
Distributing copyright earnings on a blockchain to provide an open and transparent way to distribute copyright payments to creators. The method uses blockchain virtual resources as a medium of exchange for copyright transfers. When a work is used, a portion of the earnings is paid to the publisher and the rest is reserved as virtual resources for that work. These resources are then distributed to the nodes in the blockchain network that used the work.
14. Blockchain-Based System for Copyright User Credit Evaluation with Consensus-Driven Credit Scoring
Advanced New Technologies Co., Ltd., 2021
Performing credit evaluation on copyright users using a blockchain to create an open and credible system. It involves adding a copyright credit score to each user in the blockchain. If a user initiates an illegal copyright usage event, their credit score is deducted through consensus verification by other nodes. This reflects their lower credibility and restricts further actions. The decentralized and tamper-proof blockchain ensures accurate credit evaluation.
15. Blockchain-Based System for Encrypted Storage and Processing of Copyright Transaction Data
BAIDU ONLINE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD., 2021
Using blockchain to secure and transparently process copyright transactions. After copyright registration, the method enables copyright service platforms to request blockchain storage of participant information and processing details for transactions like sales or licensing. The blockchain nodes receive and store the encrypted transaction requests. By encrypting participant data with public keys, it ensures privacy while providing an auditable record of copyright transactions that can't be tampered with.
16. Consortium Blockchain Network for Decentralized Storage of Copyright Event Records
Advanced New Technologies Co., Ltd., 2021
Storing a record of a copyright event in a blockchain through an agent. This involves using a consortium blockchain network where member nodes include work service provider devices. The providers broadcast copyright events generated by their services to the network. This ensures tamper-resistant, decentralized storage of copyright event records compared to centralized providers which could tamper with or destroy records.
17. Blockchain System for Patent Rights Management with Tradable Patent Coins and Dividend Distribution
Yapeng LU, 2019
A blockchain-based method to encourage innovation and patenting in product circulation. The method involves entrusting patent rights to a management agency that evaluates the patent and grants a unique patent coin to the inventor. The patent coin can be traded on an exchange. The agency promotes and protects the patent rights. Half of license fees paid by users go to the agency and half to a rights protection partner. The agency distributes dividends to patent coin holders. This incentivizes patenting, enables participation in patent value, and funds rights protection.
18. Blockchain-Based System for Decentralized Digital Content Copyright Transaction Management
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD, 2018
Transparent and trusted digital content copyright management using blockchain technology. It leverages blockchain's decentralized storage and consensus mechanisms to securely record copyright transactions in a public ledger across multiple nodes. The copyright management involves constructing copyright registration, transfer, product creation, abandonment, and license distribution transactions that are verified and stored permanently in the blockchain. This provides an immutable and transparent history of copyright ownership changes and permissions.
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Blockchain technology has the ability to completely transform IP management, as indicated by these patents. These approaches provide enhanced security, transparency, and efficiency for creators and organizations, which include automating patent renewals to embedding copyright information in digital content.