Developing, protecting, and monetizing technology intellectual property. Introducing inventions with mass appeal to the world. Harnessing the value of innovation. And doing it all through specialized expertise. That’s the WiLAN Way.
Overview
WiLAN was founded in 1992 to commercialize technology inventions that made low-cost, high-speed wireless networking a reality. Used in several generations of proprietary products manufactured by WiLAN and other products offered by industry, these inventions were, by 2005, commercialized in millions of wireless networking devices worth many billions of dollars. Realizing the value that its intellectual property brought to industry, WiLAN chose in 2006 to focus its business on developing, protecting and monetizing patented inventions.
Research and DevelopmentBuilding on WiLAN’s rich history of innovation, our research and development team is focused on developing and commercializing inventions in next-generation communication systems. The innovations that WiLAN makes today may form critical building blocks of valuable new technologies, markets and products that will benefit people in the future. Just as WiLAN's past inventions have proven to be valuable to society – including W-OFDM (Wideband Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing), which contributed to the realization of today’s multi-billion dollar market for low-cost, high-speed Wi-Fi networks; and V-Chip, which gives parents the power to protect family members from inappropriate content on television – the inventions we develop today may also contribute to a better future.
Inventions
Our portfolio of over 800 patented inventions bring value to industry and consumers by enabling or improving millions of communication and consumer electronics products sold around the world. Growth of our portfolio is driven by our internal research and development program as well as technology acquisitions and licensing partnerships. Bringing in additional technologies strengthens the value of our portfolio to current and future licensees by increasing their ability to access technology that benefits their products. For inventors and companies who lack the resources, knowledge and experience to monetize their patented inventions, our acquisition and revenue-sharing licensing partnership programs generate an important return on their innovation investments.
LicensingWiLAN’s experienced team of technical, business and legal professionals facilitates licensed use of our intellectual property using a process that begins with detailed research and negotiation. We offer reasonable royalty rates that are not overly burdensome to companies and markets yet generate a fair return for WiLAN. Inventions in our portfolio are licensed by companies that manufacture or sell a wide range of communication and consumer electronics products including 3G cellular handsets, Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, Wi-Fi/DSL routers, xDSL infrastructure, WiMAX base stations, Bluetooth-enabled devices and digital television receivers. Over 230 companies, including Cisco, Nokia, Panasonic, Samsung, RIM, Sharp, Sony and Toshiba, have licensed WiLAN technologies.