Evidence of use (EoU)
Description
EoU is widely used in patent licensing, enforcement, litigation and monetization. It typically involves creating a claim chart that maps each limitation of a patent claim to a feature in an accused product or service. These charts must be detailed, accurate and supported by verifiable sources such as product manuals, technical specifications, public demonstrations or reverse engineering.
EoU analysis helps rights holders understand the strength of a potential assertion and supports informed decision-making on negotiation, litigation or licensing. It is also valuable for companies assessing inbound claims or evaluating the risk profile of their own technologies. RWS supports EoU development through structured research workflows and access to technical subject-matter expertise, helping organizations gather reliable, defensible documentation for licensing and enforcement strategies.
Example use cases
- Licensing: Preparing patent licensing or monetization packages.
- Litigation: Supporting litigation or pre-litigation analysis.
- Risk: Evaluating potential infringement risks.
- Defense: Assessing the strength of inbound claims.
- Competition: Identifying competitive technologies that practice patented features.
Key benefits
RWS perspective
RWS supports EoU development through structured research workflows and access to technical subject-matter expertise, helping organizations gather reliable, defensible documentation for licensing and enforcement strategies.