No Infringement Risk: An expired patent can no longer be enforced. This means that the inventions and methods described in the expired patent are now in the public domain and can be freely used without the risk of infringement.
Access to Technical Information: Dead patents provide a wealth of technical information that can be used to understand the state of the art in a particular field. This can prove valuable for developing new products and processes or improving existing ones.
Design Freedom: With the expiration or abandonment of patents, companies have greater freedom to design and develop products without the constraint of navigating around active patents. This can lead to more innovation and reduced development costs.
Market Entry: The expiration of key patents in a particular field can lower barriers to market entry. New players can enter the market without the need to negotiate licenses or face litigation from the original patent holders.
Competitive Advantage: Understanding which patents are dead can give a company a strategic advantage. They can utilize the technology described in these patents to improve their products or processes, potentially gaining a competitive edge.
Dead patents can be highly beneficial in an FTO analysis by providing freedom from infringement risk, access to technical knowledge, and strategic advantages in product development and market entry.
