RPX Acquires PatentFreedom

RPX Corporation (NASDAQ: RPXC), the leading provider of patent risk management solutions today announced its acquisition of PatentFreedom, the first provider of data, intelligence, and consulting on non-practicing entities (NPEs). While financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, it is not expected to be material to RPX’s Q2 or full-year 2014 results. Dan McCurdy, founder and Chairman of PatentFreedom, will join RPX as Senior Vice President.

“Dan has long been a proponent of transparency in the patent market, encouraging companies to share intelligence about NPEs through a trusted clearinghouse in an effort to manage cost and risk,” said John A. Amster, Chief Executive and Co-founder of RPX. “We have always shared the view that increased transparency of information is a key part of lowering duplicative transaction costs in the patent market. Dan’s consistent and trusted voice will help drive this vision with our clients.”

Current subscribers to PatentFreedom will continue to have full access to its database of NPE litigations and profiles. RPX also will integrate PatentFreedom’s data collection into its proprietary database that cross-references all patent, litigation, and entity information. The company recently launched RPX Search, the first free search engine to provide public access to all US patents and applications, every patent litigation filed in a US district court since 2000, and all patent owners and parties in litigations. It also launched a free web-based Assertion Management tool to consolidate all patent data relevant to demand letters from NPEs. This new suite of data and tools will facilitate collaboration among companies to share information on patent disputes that can help lower transaction costs.

“John and I consistently have been aligned in our desire to bring more visibility into the patent market,” said Dan McCurdy. “Joining RPX allows me to continue to advocate for that cause, and I am pleased to help drive the further development of RPX’s research, analysis, and tools for companies to inform their patent strategy decisions.”

As of March 31, 2014, RPX had invested over $810 million to acquire more than 4,300 US and international patent assets and rights on behalf of the 178 members of its client network in seven key sectors: consumer electronics and PCs, E-commerce and software, financial services, media content and distribution, mobile communications and devices, networking, and semiconductors.