Can we specify the technical field of know-how by making patent portfolio analysis?

摘要

It is important for companies to make decisions whether new technology is applied as a patent application or should be hidden as know-how to keep technical competitiveness. Companies are given exclusive right by patent granting. On the other hand, know-how is protected under the trade-secrets law. Companies are required to make strict secrecy management of know-how to have protection. However, it's not easy to keep it as secrecy, and in the real business situation there are many disputes according to information leakage by the mobilization of human resources. Originally, know-how is controlled as a secret in companies, and it is invisible for outsiders. However, if we specify technical field in which know-how is hidden in patent specification without disclosure, it is useful for leading companies to keep its secrecy and upgrade the strategies of managing know-how. On the other hand, it helps following companies to make decisions which technical field they should concentrate on the development effort of such secrecy area. This research is a challenge to specify technical field in which know-how is hidden in patent specification, by making analysis on patent specification, in the field of aramid textile as one of the example of this research field. We believe that this research outcome contributes to management of technology in chemical companies in aramid textile field, also give the possibility to use the same methodology to find out know-how area from patent specification of the other industry field in the future.