Home Twitter Announces Patent Agreement Where Employees Control IP

Twitter Announces Patent Agreement Where Employees Control IP

Today Twitter announced its new Innovator’s Patent Agreement (IPA), which will give its engineers and designers control over the patents they create.

This is a dramatic break from the current approach in Silicon Valley, where companies take full control of patents and can then sell them or use them in lawsuits. “With the IPA, employees can be assured that their patents will be used only as a shield rather than as a weapon,” Twitter wrote in its announcement.

The IPA will apply retroactively to patents created in the past. Twitter says it will implement the agreement later this year.

Twitter has had its share of patent litigation. In October of last year, patent lawyer Dinesh Agarwal claimed Twitter infringed on his patent for a “method and system for creating an interactive virtual community of famous people.” A court rejected Twitter’s attempt to get the case dismissed, and it moved to trial. The judge pressured Twitter to settle with the patent holder but Twitter eventually won; a federal jury in Norfolk, Virginia, sided with the company.

Image via Shutterstock.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.