
79
Chapter 7
THE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD OF
INFRINGEABILITY AND VALIDITY
7.1 INFRINGEABILITY–VALIDITY BALANCE
One way to think about patent value is by how much the invention will contribute
to the good of society. Another way to think about patent value is based on the
discounted cash ow of royalties received or the costs avoided (that is to say:
Should the money be spent on the patent or just put in the bank instead?).
A more legalistic and perhaps cynical way to think about the value of a patent
is the one we touched on briey in Chapter 4—namely, its likelihood of being
infringed by someone of signicance, such as another technology business, and ...