What is the value of a patent on ski bindings?

Limited costs

Patenting is expensive, and enforcing patents even more so. One may wonder whether such processes are really worth the tens of millions that parties must be expected to spend on patents. After all, cross-country skiing is a small sport with few active countries.

 

However, this will help with costs. Solutions with low production costs and universal global importance, such as pharmaceuticals, must be protected worldwide to be sufficiently secured. This entails very high costs with processes in each region and country and the coordination of these.

This is easier for cross-country patents. By protecting the solution in a few main markets, you will soon have sufficient protection. Similarly, for example, a method for fish farming in saltwater would doubtless need protection in Switzerland.

 

This, together with the great importance of patents for market position, means that patenting probably makes good sense for Rottefella here.

There is definitely a lot to save by not uncritically patenting everything, everywhere, always. But then it is also important to see when patenting is really worth it.

 

 

Silk road for the IP strategy

A number of external factors influence the success of this IP strategy.

As mentioned, the function has extra value for community skiing, but larger market trends also come into play.

Firstly, customers are increasingly reluctant to install their own bindings. When we used to drill and screw the bindings in at home, you could freely choose which binding you chose for your skis. Now skis are usually delivered from the factory or shop with a pre-installed attachment system, which binds you to a given choice of binding. This is also desirable for the sales team, as this process allows them to compete on service, not just price when selling online.

A good patent alone is worth nothing. The great value of a patent comes from the right timing and provides a lasting competitive advantage.

 

If Rottefella truly succeeds, Move will become an integral part of cross-country skiers' experience of better glide and grip with group skis. This has value far beyond the binding itself, by further strengthening the Rottefella brand long after patent protection has expired.

 

 

Find your key patent

All industries can learn from Rottefella's IP strategy here. It's not enough that the solution is technically ingenious. The solution can be simple.

The value lies in the sum of the protection and the competitive advantage it gives you.