While there are many books on litigation and licensing, until now, this is the first directed to settlement. Organized in four sections, this resource is designed to help everyone involved improve patent settlement outcomes and processes. Throughout the book, numerous charts and graphs demonstrate the book's key concepts and pertinent data. Many charts are shown in color for ease of use.

Economics of Settlement: Business people deal with patents primarily based on economic results. They decide between litigation and a variety of possible settlements based on which is more efficient, that is, provides the largest gains at the lowest cost given a considerable amount of risk. Hence, Part 1 describes the generally-accepted economic model of settlement decisions adapted to fit patent actions and the settlement options most commonly used in the patent context. Part 1 also describes a model of the decision to license, one possible component of settlement.

Applying the Economic Model: Part 2 shows how this model is applied to help make settlement decisions in particular situations. It explains how to identify the specific facts and estimates that shape each party's settlement decision and translate that information into dollar amounts showing whether various types of settlement are in the economic interests of the parties. Part 2 contains many examples. It shows how to prepare understandable, informative charts showing the dollar magnitudes of the controlling factors from the perspectives of each party, whether the conditions for settlement are likely to be satisfied, and either the financial gap preventing an agreement or the range of financial terms within which settlement is possible. The charts are also useful in managing litigation.

Data on Patent Litigation: Part 3 describes the data the author has developed on how patent litigation works. This data will help people form reasonable expectations about litigation. How frequently are patent actions resolved by trial, pretrial motion, or settlement? How long does it take for patent actions to be resolved by trial, motion, or settlement? When does settlement usually occur? Who wins and loses on trials and motions? Are patent owners as successful as often reported? Did the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit really make much difference? Are damages in patent actions as large as advertised and large enough to explain the large number of actions the parties litigated rather than settled? Part 3 also describes data developed by others.

Legal Issues and Settlement: Part 4 describes the law that people involved in settlement need to understand. Law governs the consequences of various ways of resolving patent disputes before litigation and the ways litigation may be terminated. Law defines when potential infringers and licensees may commence declaratory judgment actions, creating barriers to negotiations and agreements. Antirust law defines the legality of settlement and cooperation among patent owners, accused infringers or potential licensees regarding litigation, settlement and licensing. Part 4 describes these laws and ways to adapt settlement practices to the constraints of the law.