Marin Software's Q1 Numbers Should Provide Some Good Clues [View article]
Not hard to figure out. Read my first article and it should be pretty obvious that growth is slowing and losses are large. Here is what I said at the end.
As has been seen in IPOs over the last several years, investors are initially excited by huge revenue growth in explosive growth areas but eventually the focus returns to the bottom line. Growing revenues at the expense of larger losses will only be tolerated for so long before the market decides it has had enough. Marin Software is already selling at a trailing twelve month figure of revenue versus market cap of around 8-10. It is not expecting to break even for at least another 2 years
Don't Buy Apple Or Google, Invest In What They Are Going To Buy [View article]
Starbucks, HP Sued By Patent Adviser Over Workflow Software
By Matthew Heller
Law360, New York (May 03, 2013, 8:10 PM ET) -- A unit of Marathon Patent Group Inc. filed a suit Friday in Texas federal court alleging Starbucks Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., Avon Products Inc. and five other major corporations have infringed its patents relating to online systems for workflow management and collaboration.
The suit is the second Sampo IP LLC has filed since it merged with American Strategic Minerals Corp. in November to form Marathon Patent, which advises clients on how to monetize intellectual property assets. Sampo's portfolio of three patents is collectively known as “Centrifugal Communication and Collaboration Method.”
The eight defendants, the suit says, “have directly infringed, and continue to directly infringe” those patents by using Jive Software Inc.'s social business software platform as a means of internal communication.
“[T]he information communicated between users can be used to facilitate workflow and collaboration on group tasks, projects and documents, etc.,” Sampo explains.
The company is seeking unspecified damages for patent infringement against Starbucks, HP, Avon, E-Trade Financial Corporate Services Inc., Liberty Mutual Group Inc., Aetna Inc., Yum! Brands Inc. and Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
In a suit filed in the same court in March, Sampo alleged Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC, Siemens Energy Inc., Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Juniper Networks, Inc., Winn Dixie Stores Inc. and Dell Inc. had infringed the same patents by using an online communications system offered by HyperOffice.
Marathon Patent partners with investors and patent owners to monetize patent portfolios. It has recently announced a strategic alliance with patent monetization giant IP Nav and beefed up its patent portfolio by acquiring CyberFone Systems LLC.
According to the new suit, the Jive platform “offers a communication system whereby the users of such system, via a network of computing devices linked by a network, are able to communicate with one another using such computing devices.”
“The systems have a central device that can receive information from, and transmit information to, the computing devices of the users,” the suit says.
The patent assertion business has drawn the ire of technology companies, with Google, Blackberry, Earthlink and others lobbying Congress to take a stronger stand against companies — known as “patent trolls” — that file patent suits but don't actually make products themselves.
Earlier this week, Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., announced he would introduce a bill to eliminate such suits by sending them to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for vetting before they can be litigated in court.
In April, cloud-hosting provider Rackspace filed a declaratory relief claim against IP Nav, calling the patent monetizer “the most notorious patent troll in America.”
Sampo is represented by Andrew W. Spangler and James A. Fussell of Spangler & Fussell PC, and by Rolf O. Stadheim, George C. Summerfield and Steven R. Pedersen of Stadheim & Grear Ltd.
Counsel information for the defendants was not immediately available Friday.
The case is Sampo IP LLC v. E-Trade Financial Corporate Services et al., case number 2:13-cv-00374, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Investing In The Erin Brockovich Of The Stock Market [View article]
sstrand1,
I like that thinking (wink, nudge). Nobody knows where any stock is going but I like our chances here. A market cap of only $50M is a double from here and I think the guys running it are looking for much more. I look at most of the other IP monetization companies and most of them have no other revenue streams except if they win in court. Marathon will be generating revenues working for other companies which may very well cover all their costs. What many have not figured out yet is when they do get settlements the margins are huge because all the work has already been paid for. Therefore it will really hit the bottom line. Good luck.
Investing In The Erin Brockovich Of The Stock Market [View article]
We can agree to disagree, no problem. If just CyberFone produces as its historical 18 month track record has demonstrated, that would be approximately close to $2M in revs per Q with SG&A of only about $450k. While there could be some additional and initial one time charges, the company should easily be cash flow positive, if not profitable currently just on that one producing asset.
On the shares you reference being issued, you talk dilution, to the contrary I see the acquisition as highly accretive. I would also point out that those shares you reference are going to Erich Spangenberg of IpNav. Ask yourself why has he been putting these proven and valuable IP assets into Marathon for equity versus simply selling for cash? These are producing assets and could easily be monetized for cash yet he has elected to take shares of Marathon that he couldn’t sell right now even if he wanted to. In fact, it’s rumored RPX Corp wanted the CyberFone deal offering a sizeable cash amount for the portfolio. Spangenberg took Marathon equity instead.
There can only be one answer and his own words seem to speak volumes. "IPNav is pleased to be able to serve Marathon Patent Group in supporting the CyberFone Systems licensing program," said Erich Spangenberg, Chief Executive Officer of IPNav. "This patent portfolio is broadly infringed and a proven revenue-generator that will continue to provide significant income for quite some time." "We see the difference in what Marathon Patent Group is building and we are elated to be receiving equity in Marathon as part of our compensation,"
Investing In The Erin Brockovich Of The Stock Market [View article]
Alvarac,
Please allow me to correct you, Marathon is now currently generating revenues and likely profitable just from the last two patent acquisitions which are proven assets with a historical track record of many millions in licensing settlements. Both acquired portfolio's have a forward pipeline of many current cases which should continue to result in continued comparable licensing revenues on a go forward basis.
You might want to look at the two recent releases where the company states past revenues associated with the portfolio and the timeframe in which they occurred. CyberFone has amassed almost $16M on 39 settlements or licenses, currently I believe 16 more are in process. The enforcement was initiated just 18 months ago so settlements are not elongated and have been averaging in the $450k range at roughly 1.7 of them per month. You can do the math and extrapolate what the company will likely see going forward over a similar time frame, absent additional suits which would only add to those potential revenues.
The TQP patent they just acquired has already yielded $40M in settlements and that's only 1 patent. That $40M has come from approximately 97 settlements. My understanding is that the patent is already being asserted in an additional 60 plus suits that are pending. Do the math, that's approximately $24M in potential revenue for just that single patent on a go forward basis, and that's only gives consideration to current on-going suits, no new ones. I'd assume they intend to file more on this patent as well as the Cyberphone portfolio, Sampo patents and the Mosaid one.
With respect to the company's current SG&A, I understand it to be just approximately $150k a month, or less than $500k per quarter, not what I believe you are erroneously stating as $2M a quarter. You'd be well served to note the number you are citing is from the filings pertaining to the predecessor company that used to own the corporate shell.
While I respect you making your opinion known, you're unfortunately making it based on outdated information that is not applicable to Marathon's actual current business operations. I think the next financial filing may find you pleasantly surprised and re-thinking your analysis.
I personally think the current valuation is grossly under representing the value of the company's asset base and revenue pipeline. Currently they posses about 100 assets, (patents or applications).
It's my opinion current fair value should be in the $1 range. I think the only thing keeping the shares in the current price range is some legacy related shares coming from shareholders associated with the former company and who have been unable to sell for a period of close to 2 years. I think a lot of that overhead was exhausted last week.
Not sure if you saw this today, but the company filed another suit against some major corporations late Friday. "A unit of Marathon Patent Group Inc. filed a suit Friday in Texas federal court alleging Starbucks Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., Avon Products Inc. and five other major corporations have infringed its patents relating to online systems for workflow management and collaboration."
Why Document Security Systems Is My Favorite Speculative Play For 2013 [View article]
Spangenberg owns like 8M shares of Marathon.
"IPNav is pleased to be able to serve Marathon Patent Group in supporting the CyberFone Systems licensing program," said Erich Spangenberg, Chief Executive Officer of IPNav. "This patent portfolio is broadly infringed and a proven revenue-generator that will continue to provide significant income for quite some time."
Earlier this year, Marathon Patent Group announced it had entered into a strategic relationship with industry-leading patent monetization company IP Navigation Group. IPNav will continue source and execute monetization opportunities on behalf of MPG. "We see the difference in what Marathon Patent Group is building and we are elated to be receiving equity in Marathon as part of our compensation," said Spangenberg.
2 Undiscovered Patent Plays: Will History Repeat Itself In The Patent Infringement Space? [View article]
sstrand1,
Your best bet to get an answer to your question would be to contact Eric Spangenberg. As a shareholder in Marathon Patent I am thrilled that they have acquired IP that has already been proven and has 10 US patents and 27 International ones. They aren't trying to take out elephants but build a long term growth company. What you may also want to ask Eric if you talk to him is why would a guy take 6M shares of a 40 cents company? His expectations must be pretty high that something is going to happen here and at the end of the day I own this stock because I think I am going to make money and the stock is going to go much higher than its current price.The company has been around 4 months and look at what they have already accomplished. Can I see this stock at $2 in a year? Why not since that would still be a market cap under $100M and they could be doing over $10M in very high margin licensing.
The portfolio, which has a large and established licensing base, consists of ten United States patents and 27 foreign patents and one patent pending. The patent rights that cover digital communications and data transaction processing are foundational to certain applications in the wireless, telecommunications, financial and other industries
Acacia Research: A Conservative Investor's Choice For Investing In Intellectual Property [View article]
Marathon Patent Group Releases Letter to Shareholders Press Release: Marathon Patent Group ......ALEXANDRIA, VA--(Marketwired - Apr 25, 2013) - Marathon Patent Group, Inc. (OTCBB: MARA) ("Marathon"), an Intellectual Property services and monetization company, today released the following letter to its shareholders.
Dear Fellow Shareholder,
I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the progress Marathon has made since our new business strategy was adopted in mid-November 2012.
As many of you know, the Company has been transformed into an intellectual property company, in which revenues will be generated from our two divisions: IP Licensing & Enforcement and IP Services. We have hired executives with experience in intellectual property as well as added two new independent board members with strong credentials in the intellectual property industry. In our transformation process, we have substantially unwound our real estate assets and are seeking to dispose of our remaining uranium exploration assets.
The Company has changed its name to Marathon Patent Group from American Strategic Minerals. The corporate name change was undertaken to align our new business strategy as an intellectual property ("IP") company. Marathon serves patent holders of all types and sizes, including individual inventors, small and medium-size businesses, universities and Fortune 500 corporations. Marathon's IP Services Division devises strategies that allow its clients to maximize the value of their IP assets. In addition to generating revenues through IP consulting engagements, Marathon's IP Licensing & Enforcement Division partners with patent owners to monetize their patent portfolios through IP licensing campaigns and enforcement activities.
Marathon's objective is to provide a focused and comprehensive set of IP services -- the entire innovation life-cycle -- that range from analysis of existing IP assets, new idea creation, application and patent development, prosecution, commercialization, licensing and enforcement. Marathon currently offers such services as proprietary analytics, IP valuation methods, partnering opportunities, infringement tracking, patent analysis, strategies, tactics, enforcement and reporting.
In recent months, the Company is pleased to have accomplished the following objectives:
•Acquired CyberFone Systems and its patent portfolio which has generated 32 settlement and license agreements for a total of $15.5 million in revenue •Acquired US Patent 5,331,637 from MOSAID Technologies, one of the world's leading intellectual property management companies •Entered into a strategic relationship with IP Navigation (IPNav), the leader in full-service patent monetization •Completed the acquisition of Sampo IP LLC acquiring its patent portfolio consisting of three patents and one pending patent application •Commenced our first licensing campaign on March 20, 2013 by filing a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC, Siemens Energy, Inc., CB Apex Realtors, d/b/a Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Juniper Networks, Inc., Winn Dixie Stores, Inc., and Dell, Inc. •Established a new IP Research and Services Center at the University of Arizona Science & Technology Park in Tucson, Arizona •Hired Nathaniel Bradley, an accomplished inventor and IP strategist, as CTO and President of IP Services •Hired James Crawford as Chief Operating Officer •Hired Douglas Bender as Vice President of Engineering •Appointed both Craig Nard and Will Rosellini as independent directors to the Company's Board of Directors We believe that Marathon is differentiated from other IP-related companies by its highly experienced management team possessing combined knowledge across a wide array of industries and disciplines, sustainable sources of high-quality IP licensing and enforcement opportunities, the ability to diversify its patent asset and portfolio base to include under-serviced patent holders, and long-term relationships in the IP marketplace including its strong relationship with IP Navigation Group.
Although Marathon has moved quickly in the execution of its business plan, I am reminded of a famous quote from Thomas Edison, "Vision without execution is a hallucination."
I appreciate your support as we continue to focus on building long-term sustainable shareholder value.
Acacia Research: A Conservative Investor's Choice For Investing In Intellectual Property [View article]
Marathon Patent Group Provides Details on CyberFone Systems Acquisition Portfolio Generated 32 Settlement and License Agreements Totaling $15.5 Million
......ALEXANDRIA, VA--(Marketwired - Apr 24, 2013) - Marathon Patent Group®, Inc. (OTCBB: MARA) ("Marathon"), an intellectual property services and monetization company, today provides an update on its recent acquisition of CyberFone Systems, LLC and its patent portfolio. The patents cover claims that provide the right to practice specific transactional data processing, telecommunications, network and database inventions, including financial transactions.
The portfolio has a history of revenue generation, demonstrating the value of the assets, as well as their widespread use over multiple industries. Since the licensing and enforcement campaign began nearly 18 months ago, the patent portfolio has generated 32 settlement and license agreements for a total of $15.5 million in revenue. Ongoing infringement continues, and the portfolio is currently being enforced against 16 named defendants, including Federal Express, Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Nintendo, ZTE, Siemens, Alcatel-Lucent and UPS among others.
Marathon believes these patents cover inventions that are in widespread use, particularly in the mobile internet environment. Marathon and IP Navigation ("IPNav"), its strategic partner, will continue to identify, and license to, those who market or sell technologies covered by the underlying rights of the acquired assets. This includes infringement both in already identified industries, but also in newly identified verticals or use cases. Earlier this year, Marathon Patent Group announced it had entered into a strategic relationship with industry-leading patent monetization company IP Navigation Group, which has generated more than $600 million to date in licenses, settlements and damages awards. IPNav will continue source and execute monetization opportunities on behalf of MPG.
"It is clear from the continued performance of the CyberFone portfolio that it represents diversification in both its ability to generate revenue and in the breadth of its base of licensees," said Doug Croxall, Chief Executive Officer of Marathon Patent Group. "We see portfolios like it as the foundation of Marathon's growth strategy. We are also working with IPNav to identify other industries and potential licensees for the CyberFone portfolio."
About Marathon Patent Group Marathon Patent Group® ("Marathon") is an intellectual property services and monetization company that serves a wide range of patent holders and technologies from Fortune 500 to independent inventors. Marathon provides clients advice and services that enable them to realize financial and strategic return on their IP rights. Marathon serves clients through two complementary business units: the IP Research & Services Center, which helps to identify and manage patents, and the IP Licensing and Enforcement Group, which acquires IP assets, partners with patent holders, and monetizes patent portfolios through actively managed patent licensing campaigns. Marathon is based in Alexandria, Virginia. http://bit.ly/14lv1Cf
About IPNav IPNav is the world's leading full-service patent monetization firm, helping forward-thinking corporations, universities, organizations, and individuals profit from innovation. IPNav's integrated, end-to-end solution turns idle IP assets into revenue streams. Using its proprietary Patent Monetization Platform, IPNav unlocks the value trapped in our clients' IP portfolios -- with timetables and objectives set by the client. Based in Dallas, IPNav has offices in Dublin, Paris, Shanghai, and Tel Aviv. http://www.ipnav.com
Marin Software's Q1 Numbers Should Provide Some Good Clues [View article]
As has been seen in IPOs over the last several years, investors are initially excited by huge revenue growth in explosive growth areas but eventually the focus returns to the bottom line. Growing revenues at the expense of larger losses will only be tolerated for so long before the market decides it has had enough. Marin Software is already selling at a trailing twelve month figure of revenue versus market cap of around 8-10. It is not expecting to break even for at least another 2 years
Stop Gambling On Patent Lawsuits [View article]
Marathon Forbes Article
Don't Buy Apple Or Google, Invest In What They Are Going To Buy [View article]
By Matthew Heller
Law360, New York (May 03, 2013, 8:10 PM ET) -- A unit of Marathon Patent Group Inc. filed a suit Friday in Texas federal court alleging Starbucks Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., Avon Products Inc. and five other major corporations have infringed its patents relating to online systems for workflow management and collaboration.
The suit is the second Sampo IP LLC has filed since it merged with American Strategic Minerals Corp. in November to form Marathon Patent, which advises clients on how to monetize intellectual property assets. Sampo's portfolio of three patents is collectively known as “Centrifugal Communication and Collaboration Method.”
The eight defendants, the suit says, “have directly infringed, and continue to directly infringe” those patents by using Jive Software Inc.'s social business software platform as a means of internal communication.
“[T]he information communicated between users can be used to facilitate workflow and collaboration on group tasks, projects and documents, etc.,” Sampo explains.
The company is seeking unspecified damages for patent infringement against Starbucks, HP, Avon, E-Trade Financial Corporate Services Inc., Liberty Mutual Group Inc., Aetna Inc., Yum! Brands Inc. and Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
In a suit filed in the same court in March, Sampo alleged Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC, Siemens Energy Inc., Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Juniper Networks, Inc., Winn Dixie Stores Inc. and Dell Inc. had infringed the same patents by using an online communications system offered by HyperOffice.
Marathon Patent partners with investors and patent owners to monetize patent portfolios. It has recently announced a strategic alliance with patent monetization giant IP Nav and beefed up its patent portfolio by acquiring CyberFone Systems LLC.
According to the new suit, the Jive platform “offers a communication system whereby the users of such system, via a network of computing devices linked by a network, are able to communicate with one another using such computing devices.”
“The systems have a central device that can receive information from, and transmit information to, the computing devices of the users,” the suit says.
The patent assertion business has drawn the ire of technology companies, with Google, Blackberry, Earthlink and others lobbying Congress to take a stronger stand against companies — known as “patent trolls” — that file patent suits but don't actually make products themselves.
Earlier this week, Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., announced he would introduce a bill to eliminate such suits by sending them to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for vetting before they can be litigated in court.
In April, cloud-hosting provider Rackspace filed a declaratory relief claim against IP Nav, calling the patent monetizer “the most notorious patent troll in America.”
Sampo is represented by Andrew W. Spangler and James A. Fussell of Spangler & Fussell PC, and by Rolf O. Stadheim, George C. Summerfield and Steven R. Pedersen of Stadheim & Grear Ltd.
Counsel information for the defendants was not immediately available Friday.
The case is Sampo IP LLC v. E-Trade Financial Corporate Services et al., case number 2:13-cv-00374, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Investing In The Erin Brockovich Of The Stock Market [View article]
I like that thinking (wink, nudge). Nobody knows where any stock is going but I like our chances here. A market cap of only $50M is a double from here and I think the guys running it are looking for much more. I look at most of the other IP monetization companies and most of them have no other revenue streams except if they win in court. Marathon will be generating revenues working for other companies which may very well cover all their costs. What many have not figured out yet is when they do get settlements the margins are huge because all the work has already been paid for. Therefore it will really hit the bottom line. Good luck.
MG
Investing In The Erin Brockovich Of The Stock Market [View article]
On the shares you reference being issued, you talk dilution, to the contrary I see the acquisition as highly accretive. I would also point out that those shares you reference are going to Erich Spangenberg of IpNav. Ask yourself why has he been putting these proven and valuable IP assets into Marathon for equity versus simply selling for cash? These are producing assets and could easily be monetized for cash yet he has elected to take shares of Marathon that he couldn’t sell right now even if he wanted to. In fact, it’s rumored RPX Corp wanted the CyberFone deal offering a sizeable cash amount for the portfolio. Spangenberg took Marathon equity instead.
There can only be one answer and his own words seem to speak volumes. "IPNav is pleased to be able to serve Marathon Patent Group in supporting the CyberFone Systems licensing program," said Erich Spangenberg, Chief Executive Officer of IPNav. "This patent portfolio is broadly infringed and a proven revenue-generator that will continue to provide significant income for quite some time." "We see the difference in what Marathon Patent Group is building and we are elated to be receiving equity in Marathon as part of our compensation,"
Investing In The Erin Brockovich Of The Stock Market [View article]
Please allow me to correct you, Marathon is now currently generating revenues and likely profitable just from the last two patent acquisitions which are proven assets with a historical track record of many millions in licensing settlements. Both acquired portfolio's have a forward pipeline of many current cases which should continue to result in continued comparable licensing revenues on a go forward basis.
You might want to look at the two recent releases where the company states past revenues associated with the portfolio and the timeframe in which they occurred. CyberFone has amassed almost $16M on 39 settlements or licenses, currently I believe 16 more are in process. The enforcement was initiated just 18 months ago so settlements are not elongated and have been averaging in the $450k range at roughly 1.7 of them per month. You can do the math and extrapolate what the company will likely see going forward over a similar time frame, absent additional suits which would only add to those potential revenues.
The TQP patent they just acquired has already yielded $40M in settlements and that's only 1 patent. That $40M has come from approximately 97 settlements. My understanding is that the patent is already being asserted in an additional 60 plus suits that are pending. Do the math, that's approximately $24M in potential revenue for just that single patent on a go forward basis, and that's only gives consideration to current on-going suits, no new ones. I'd assume they intend to file more on this patent as well as the Cyberphone portfolio, Sampo patents and the Mosaid one.
With respect to the company's current SG&A, I understand it to be just approximately $150k a month, or less than $500k per quarter, not what I believe you are erroneously stating as $2M a quarter. You'd be well served to note the number you are citing is from the filings pertaining to the predecessor company that used to own the corporate shell.
While I respect you making your opinion known, you're unfortunately making it based on outdated information that is not applicable to Marathon's actual current business operations. I think the next financial filing may find you pleasantly surprised and re-thinking your analysis.
I personally think the current valuation is grossly under representing the value of the company's asset base and revenue pipeline. Currently they posses about 100 assets, (patents or applications).
It's my opinion current fair value should be in the $1 range. I think the only thing keeping the shares in the current price range is some legacy related shares coming from shareholders associated with the former company and who have been unable to sell for a period of close to 2 years. I think a lot of that overhead was exhausted last week.
Not sure if you saw this today, but the company filed another suit against some major corporations late Friday. "A unit of Marathon Patent Group Inc. filed a suit Friday in Texas federal court alleging Starbucks Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., Avon Products Inc. and five other major corporations have infringed its patents relating to online systems for workflow management and collaboration."
Why Document Security Systems Is My Favorite Speculative Play For 2013 [View article]
"IPNav is pleased to be able to serve Marathon Patent Group in supporting the CyberFone Systems licensing program," said Erich Spangenberg, Chief Executive Officer of IPNav. "This patent portfolio is broadly infringed and a proven revenue-generator that will continue to provide significant income for quite some time."
Earlier this year, Marathon Patent Group announced it had entered into a strategic relationship with industry-leading patent monetization company IP Navigation Group. IPNav will continue source and execute monetization opportunities on behalf of MPG. "We see the difference in what Marathon Patent Group is building and we are elated to be receiving equity in Marathon as part of our compensation," said Spangenberg.
Why Document Security Systems Is My Favorite Speculative Play For 2013 [View article]
1360501-acacia-researc...
2 Undiscovered Patent Plays: Will History Repeat Itself In The Patent Infringement Space? [View article]
Your best bet to get an answer to your question would be to contact Eric Spangenberg. As a shareholder in Marathon Patent I am thrilled that they have acquired IP that has already been proven and has 10 US patents and 27 International ones. They aren't trying to take out elephants but build a long term growth company. What you may also want to ask Eric if you talk to him is why would a guy take 6M shares of a 40 cents company? His expectations must be pretty high that something is going to happen here and at the end of the day I own this stock because I think I am going to make money and the stock is going to go much higher than its current price.The company has been around 4 months and look at what they have already accomplished. Can I see this stock at $2 in a year? Why not since that would still be a market cap under $100M and they could be doing over $10M in very high margin licensing.
The portfolio, which has a large and established licensing base, consists of ten United States patents and 27 foreign patents and one patent pending. The patent rights that cover digital communications and data transaction processing are foundational to certain applications in the wireless, telecommunications, financial and other industries
2 Undiscovered Patent Plays: Will History Repeat Itself In The Patent Infringement Space? [View article]
http://seekingalpha.co...
Acacia Research: A Conservative Investor's Choice For Investing In Intellectual Property [View article]
Press Release: Marathon Patent Group
......ALEXANDRIA, VA--(Marketwired - Apr 25, 2013) - Marathon Patent Group, Inc. (OTCBB: MARA) ("Marathon"), an Intellectual Property services and monetization company, today released the following letter to its shareholders.
Dear Fellow Shareholder,
I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the progress Marathon has made since our new business strategy was adopted in mid-November 2012.
As many of you know, the Company has been transformed into an intellectual property company, in which revenues will be generated from our two divisions: IP Licensing & Enforcement and IP Services. We have hired executives with experience in intellectual property as well as added two new independent board members with strong credentials in the intellectual property industry. In our transformation process, we have substantially unwound our real estate assets and are seeking to dispose of our remaining uranium exploration assets.
The Company has changed its name to Marathon Patent Group from American Strategic Minerals. The corporate name change was undertaken to align our new business strategy as an intellectual property ("IP") company. Marathon serves patent holders of all types and sizes, including individual inventors, small and medium-size businesses, universities and Fortune 500 corporations. Marathon's IP Services Division devises strategies that allow its clients to maximize the value of their IP assets. In addition to generating revenues through IP consulting engagements, Marathon's IP Licensing & Enforcement Division partners with patent owners to monetize their patent portfolios through IP licensing campaigns and enforcement activities.
Marathon's objective is to provide a focused and comprehensive set of IP services -- the entire innovation life-cycle -- that range from analysis of existing IP assets, new idea creation, application and patent development, prosecution, commercialization, licensing and enforcement. Marathon currently offers such services as proprietary analytics, IP valuation methods, partnering opportunities, infringement tracking, patent analysis, strategies, tactics, enforcement and reporting.
In recent months, the Company is pleased to have accomplished the following objectives:
•Acquired CyberFone Systems and its patent portfolio which has generated 32 settlement and license agreements for a total of $15.5 million in revenue
•Acquired US Patent 5,331,637 from MOSAID Technologies, one of the world's leading intellectual property management companies
•Entered into a strategic relationship with IP Navigation (IPNav), the leader in full-service patent monetization
•Completed the acquisition of Sampo IP LLC acquiring its patent portfolio consisting of three patents and one pending patent application
•Commenced our first licensing campaign on March 20, 2013 by filing a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC, Siemens Energy, Inc., CB Apex Realtors, d/b/a Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Juniper Networks, Inc., Winn Dixie Stores, Inc., and Dell, Inc.
•Established a new IP Research and Services Center at the University of Arizona Science & Technology Park in Tucson, Arizona
•Hired Nathaniel Bradley, an accomplished inventor and IP strategist, as CTO and President of IP Services
•Hired James Crawford as Chief Operating Officer
•Hired Douglas Bender as Vice President of Engineering
•Appointed both Craig Nard and Will Rosellini as independent directors to the Company's Board of Directors
We believe that Marathon is differentiated from other IP-related companies by its highly experienced management team possessing combined knowledge across a wide array of industries and disciplines, sustainable sources of high-quality IP licensing and enforcement opportunities, the ability to diversify its patent asset and portfolio base to include under-serviced patent holders, and long-term relationships in the IP marketplace including its strong relationship with IP Navigation Group.
Although Marathon has moved quickly in the execution of its business plan, I am reminded of a famous quote from Thomas Edison, "Vision without execution is a hallucination."
I appreciate your support as we continue to focus on building long-term sustainable shareholder value.
Kind regards,
Douglas Croxall
Chief Executive Officer
Acacia Research: A Conservative Investor's Choice For Investing In Intellectual Property [View article]
Portfolio Generated 32 Settlement and License Agreements Totaling $15.5 Million
......ALEXANDRIA, VA--(Marketwired - Apr 24, 2013) - Marathon Patent Group®, Inc. (OTCBB: MARA) ("Marathon"), an intellectual property services and monetization company, today provides an update on its recent acquisition of CyberFone Systems, LLC and its patent portfolio. The patents cover claims that provide the right to practice specific transactional data processing, telecommunications, network and database inventions, including financial transactions.
The portfolio has a history of revenue generation, demonstrating the value of the assets, as well as their widespread use over multiple industries. Since the licensing and enforcement campaign began nearly 18 months ago, the patent portfolio has generated 32 settlement and license agreements for a total of $15.5 million in revenue. Ongoing infringement continues, and the portfolio is currently being enforced against 16 named defendants, including Federal Express, Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Nintendo, ZTE, Siemens, Alcatel-Lucent and UPS among others.
Marathon believes these patents cover inventions that are in widespread use, particularly in the mobile internet environment. Marathon and IP Navigation ("IPNav"), its strategic partner, will continue to identify, and license to, those who market or sell technologies covered by the underlying rights of the acquired assets. This includes infringement both in already identified industries, but also in newly identified verticals or use cases. Earlier this year, Marathon Patent Group announced it had entered into a strategic relationship with industry-leading patent monetization company IP Navigation Group, which has generated more than $600 million to date in licenses, settlements and damages awards. IPNav will continue source and execute monetization opportunities on behalf of MPG.
"It is clear from the continued performance of the CyberFone portfolio that it represents diversification in both its ability to generate revenue and in the breadth of its base of licensees," said Doug Croxall, Chief Executive Officer of Marathon Patent Group. "We see portfolios like it as the foundation of Marathon's growth strategy. We are also working with IPNav to identify other industries and potential licensees for the CyberFone portfolio."
About Marathon Patent Group
Marathon Patent Group® ("Marathon") is an intellectual property services and monetization company that serves a wide range of patent holders and technologies from Fortune 500 to independent inventors. Marathon provides clients advice and services that enable them to realize financial and strategic return on their IP rights. Marathon serves clients through two complementary business units: the IP Research & Services Center, which helps to identify and manage patents, and the IP Licensing and Enforcement Group, which acquires IP assets, partners with patent holders, and monetizes patent portfolios through actively managed patent licensing campaigns. Marathon is based in Alexandria, Virginia. http://bit.ly/14lv1Cf
About IPNav
IPNav is the world's leading full-service patent monetization firm, helping forward-thinking corporations, universities, organizations, and individuals profit from innovation. IPNav's integrated, end-to-end solution turns idle IP assets into revenue streams. Using its proprietary Patent Monetization Platform, IPNav unlocks the value trapped in our clients' IP portfolios -- with timetables and objectives set by the client. Based in Dallas, IPNav has offices in Dublin, Paris, Shanghai, and Tel Aviv. http://www.ipnav.com
Marin Software's Q1 Numbers Should Provide Some Good Clues [View article]
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 16, 2013 07:58 ET (11:58 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2013 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.- - 07 58 AM EDT 04-16-13
Marin Software's Q1 Numbers Should Provide Some Good Clues [View article]
Marin Software's Q1 Numbers Should Provide Some Good Clues [View article]