{"id":8202,"date":"2026-02-09T10:21:49","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T09:21:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/preprod.tkminnovation.io\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate-study\/"},"modified":"2026-11-03T16:53:24","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T15:53:24","slug":"patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/","title":{"rendered":"Patent Landscape or Freedom-to-Operate Study?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"8202\" class=\"elementor elementor-8202 elementor-6297\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d15663a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d15663a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55ac88a elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"55ac88a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3163c17 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3163c17\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/h2><ol><li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#P1\">Introduction<\/a><\/span><\/li><li><a style=\"color: #fffaf8; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"#P2\">Patent landscape: positioning an innovation within its technology environment<\/a><\/li><li><a style=\"color: #fffaf8; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"#P3\">Why and when to use it?<\/a><\/li><li><a style=\"color: #fffaf8; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"#P4\">Freedom to Operate (FTO): analyzing the legal risks of commercialization <\/a><\/li><li><a style=\"color: #fffaf8; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"#P5\">How do the two approaches fit together? <\/a><\/li><li><a style=\"color: #fffaf8; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"#P6\">Summary<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af87879 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af87879\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"color: #d211ff;\">KEY TAKEAWAYS<\/h2><ul><li style=\"color: #d211ff;\" data-section-id=\"1c9xg6x\" data-start=\"261\" data-end=\"341\">The patent landscape provides a comprehensive view of the technology environment.<\/li><li style=\"color: #d211ff;\" data-section-id=\"1muqmcl\" data-start=\"342\" data-end=\"402\">FTO checks an innovation\u2019s freedom to operate.<\/li><li style=\"color: #d211ff;\" data-section-id=\"1zxgx6\" data-start=\"403\" data-end=\"486\">The two analyses are complementary and come into play at different stages.<\/li><li style=\"color: #d211ff;\" data-section-id=\"e7w31m\" data-start=\"487\" data-end=\"550\">Used at the right time, they help secure R&amp;D projects.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72aa261 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"72aa261\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"part-1\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57ff934 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"57ff934\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"P1\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">In innovation projects, you sometimes hear about <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">FTO (<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Freedom to Operate<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">)<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> or <a href=\"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/freedom-to-operate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">freedom to operate (FTO)<\/a>, and that\u2019s a good thing! <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Indeed, throughout a costly R&amp;D program or when launching an innovation, you always need to check whether a third party may have filed one or more patents along the way. <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Otherwise, you run the risk of hitting a wall and discovering the obstacle too late to work around it. <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">This mistake is often made by companies that are used to (sometimes for good reasons) not filing patents themselves. The reasoning then goes: \u201cwhy look at patents since I don\u2019t file any myself?\u201d Well, take our word for it at TKM:<i> \u201csome companies have tried that, and they ran into trouble.\u201d<\/i>.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Continuously checking your future freedom to operate throughout an R&amp;D project, and at every stage of its evolution, is a vital reflex for companies of any size.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">So where should you start? Carrying out an FTO study is a precise, complex exercise that can be costly. It should therefore ideally cover a very small number of closely related patents identified in the global literature (such as, for example, the literature available on TKM Platform and its DataLake). <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">In the vast majority of cases, that is therefore not the right starting point. Before that, you need a complete, mapped-out view of the field your project sits in.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">That is exactly the role of the patent landscape: a strategic analysis tool that maps a technology environment by identifying and analyzing patents. It is an approach that remains too little known and too underused, even though it is decisive for effectively steering an innovation and increasing the ROI of your R&amp;D activities.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">This article aims to help you approach your project\u2019s patent issues with confidence, drawing on the field expertise of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/catherine-derbois-947b16153\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Catherine Derbois<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">, senior patent engineer at TKM, who shares her guidelines here for securing every decision, from scoping through to market launch.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30410f8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"30410f8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dac35e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"dac35e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"part-2\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79ccadf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"79ccadf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"P2\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Patent landscape: positioning an innovation within its technology environment<\/span><\/b><\/h2><h3 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">A strategic analysis tool<\/span><\/b><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-landscape\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">patent landscape<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> is a comprehensive, thematic analysis of the patent environment in a given technical field. It is not a state-of-the-art study \u2014 a complementary, broader tool (see article\u2026) \u2014 but a <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">genuine decision-support tool<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, that can be used from the earliest phases of a project.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Catherine Derbois explains:<\/span><\/p><blockquote><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"none\">A patent landscape lets you understand what already exists, but also look ahead. Is what I\u2019m planning to do already protected? Who else is working on this? Where do they stand technically? In which countries is protection being sought? Am I entering into competition, or complementing existing work?<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The data studied comes from international patent databases (INPI, EPO, USPTO, WIPO, etc.), available within TKM Platform, and is cross-referenced and processed across several dimensions<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"none\">:<\/span><\/p><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">technological:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> what solutions have been patented? To solve what technical problem? Which technical building blocks are innovations focused on?<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">time-based:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> what changes have occurred over the past 10 or 20 years? What weak signals have appeared recently?<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">geographic:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> in which countries is protection active? Which regions are most strategic?<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">players:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> who are the main filers? What is their IP strategy? Are they potential partners or direct competitors?<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">legal:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> at what stage of examination are the identified patents? Are they patent applications, or granted patents? Are the rights still active, or are they now in the public domain?<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-df434b8 elementor-cta--skin-cover elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"df434b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg lazyload\" style=\"background-image:inherit;\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"webinaire cabinet CIR CII\" data-bg-image=\"url(https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/webinaire-cabinet-CIR-CII.png)\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item elementor-animated-item--grow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWant to be informed about our new articles?\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item elementor-animated-item--grow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\" href=\"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/tkm-newsletter-technology-monitoring\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSubscribe to our newsletter\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cb56a11 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"cb56a11\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"part-3\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8ded7f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e8ded7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"P3\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Why and when to use it?<\/span><\/b><\/h2><p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The patent landscape is a steering tool for R&amp;D and innovation.<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> It comes into play from the ideation stage or the earliest structuring phases, then requires ongoing monitoring throughout a project, in order to:<\/span><\/p><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"6\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Validate the technical relevance of an idea:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> is it genuinely new? Does an equivalent solution already exist?<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"7\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Guide development choices:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> are certain technical avenues already saturated with a large number of existing, valid patents? What alternatives are open? What different technology choices are possible (pivots)<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"8\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Feed a proactive IP strategy:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> Should I file patents associated with this project? If so, where should I file? How do I draft a differentiating claim? If not, how can I still secure my future exploitation rights (Soleau envelope, secret notebook\u2026).<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"9\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Prepare a technology partnership:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> where can I find a subcontractor? who should I approach for co-development? <\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"10\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Anticipate potential blocking points: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">are there any generic patents present? Should I consider negotiating rights? Should I place certain patents under watch to assess their technical and legal scope during my development?<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><br \/>As you can see, the patent landscape is clearly a <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">strategic steering tool for your projects and your R&amp;D investments<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, regardless of your company\u2019s size and maturity.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">In practice, this analysis is useful as early as the first 3 to 6 months of an R&amp;D project. It can be updated as the solution becomes more defined.<\/span><\/p><blockquote><p data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none \" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"none\">You don\u2019t secure an innovation at the finish line. You build it on solid foundations from the very start. The landscape is both a step and a process of strategic alignment.<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><\/p><p data-ccp-border-top=\"0px none \" data-ccp-padding-top=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u2014 <strong>Catherine Derbois<\/strong>, Senior Patent Engineer at TKM<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ee0603b elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"ee0603b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"part-4\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9fca7a4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9fca7a4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ff518a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8ff518a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"P4\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Freedom to Operate (FTO): analyzing the legal risks of commercialization<\/span><\/b><\/h2><h3 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">A targeted study with a legal purpose<\/span><\/b><\/h3><p><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Freedom to Operate <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">(FTO) <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">consists of assessing whether bringing a product or service to market could infringe a third party\u2019s still-active patent. It is a precise, legal, territorial analysis based on comparing the developed solution against the current state of the law. It answers very concrete questions:<\/span><\/p><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"11\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Is this component covered by an active patent?<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"12\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Does the combination of these elements expose me to a risk of infringement?<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"13\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Am I free to use this solution in a given country?<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"14\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Should I consider a license? A technical workaround? Redirecting the project?<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><br \/>It therefore logically follows a patent landscape, whose results it digs deeper into, focusing on documents identified as \u201chot.\u201d<\/span><b> <\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">It necessarily covers a limited number of documents identified during the landscape, along with an update of the data.<\/span><\/p><h3 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">FTO = A risk-mitigation tool before going to market<\/span><\/b><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">FTO is activated once the product is broadly defined: the prototype is functional, the value chain has been identified, and commercialization is being considered. It is often triggered<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"none\">:<\/span><\/p><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"15\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">ahead of industrialization or scale-up,<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"16\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">as part of a fundraising round or a strategic partnership,<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"17\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">ahead of a trademark filing, geographic expansion or a technology transfer.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><br \/>It may also be required by funders or major accounts in regulated sectors (health, energy, mobility\u2026).<\/span><\/p><blockquote><p data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none \" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"none\">FTO is a form of legal insurance. But if you carry it out without first analyzing your environment, you risk getting a partial picture or incurring significant costs due to a poorly scoped perimeter.<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><\/p><p data-ccp-border-top=\"0px none \" data-ccp-padding-top=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u2014 <strong>Catherine Derbois<\/strong>, Senior Patent Engineer at TKM<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5456172 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"5456172\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"part5\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22ba2d5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"22ba2d5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7dc2e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f7dc2e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"P5\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">How do the two approaches fit together?<\/span><\/b><\/h2><h3 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Two complementary approaches, not alternatives!<\/span><\/b><\/h3><p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">It\u2019s not about choosing between a patent landscape and FTO<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, but about using them in the right order, depending on the project\u2019s maturity.<\/span><\/p><table data-tablestyle=\"MsoTableGrid\" data-tablelook=\"1184\" aria-rowcount=\"5\"><tbody><tr aria-rowindex=\"1\"><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Project maturity<\/span><\/b><\/p><\/td><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Main objective<\/span><\/b><\/p><\/td><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Tool to use<\/span><\/b><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr aria-rowindex=\"2\"><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Idea or concept<\/span><\/p><\/td><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Explore, draw inspiration, position, anticipate<\/span><\/p><\/td><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Patent landscape<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr aria-rowindex=\"3\"><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Technical development<\/span><\/p><\/td><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Refine, guide, avoid redundancy, work around<\/span><\/p><\/td><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">In-depth patent landscape<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr aria-rowindex=\"4\"><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Product ready, target market identified<\/span><\/p><\/td><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Verify legal freedom to operate, negotiate a license, challenge a competing patent <\/span><\/p><\/td><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">FTO<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr aria-rowindex=\"5\"><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Industrialization, fundraising<\/span><\/p><\/td><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Secure legally, reassure stakeholders, enhance the value of your technology assets<\/span><\/p><\/td><td data-celllook=\"0\"><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Updated FTO<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><h3 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">A combination that creates value<\/span><\/b><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Activating the two approaches in a structured way enables you to:<\/span><\/p><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"18\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">optimize technical choices (and therefore development costs),<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"19\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">strengthen the protection of your own assets,<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"20\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">anticipate real, not assumed, legal risks,<\/span><\/li><li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u2192\" data-font=\"Lato\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:106676,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Lato&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u2192&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"21\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">gain credibility with partners, investors and clients.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c637ea4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"c637ea4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"part-6\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fb51f2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3fb51f2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e99962 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0e99962\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"P6\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-ccp-border-bottom=\"2px solid #281e50\" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"9.333333333333334px\">Conclusion<\/h3><p>The patent landscape and FTO serve complementary purposes: the former helps steer innovation strategy, while the latter secures the exploitation of innovations.<\/p><p>Used at the right time, these analyses help companies reduce risk, optimize their R&amp;D investments and make more informed decisions.<\/p><p>By combining technology intelligence, patent analysis and IP expertise, they gain visibility, control and the ability to turn their ideas into industrial success.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cee1f44 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cee1f44\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0c4c3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c0c4c3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\">Are you <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\">launching <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\">an innovat<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\">ive project<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\">? <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\"> <br \/>A specialist in scientific and technology intelligence, TKM provides <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">powerful, complementary <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">monitoring and analysis tools<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">,<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">designed to<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">inform your innovation strategies. <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\">Our experts <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\">can help you <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\">set up<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\"> a <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW96031420 BCX0\">landscape<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\"> or <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\">launch <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\">an FTO study, answer your questions <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\">and help you move forward <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\">with confidence. <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/contact-tkm-innovation\/\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW96031420 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW96031420 BCX0\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Contact us!<\/span><\/span> <\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FTO and patent landscape: positioning an innovation within its technology environment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":8203,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[198],"tags":[201],"class_list":["post-8202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-patent"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Patent Landscape or Freedom-to-Operate Study? | TKM | Plateforme de veille technologique IA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Patent Landscape or Freedom-to-Operate Study? | TKM | Plateforme de veille technologique IA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"FTO and patent landscape: positioning an innovation within its technology environment\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"TKM | Plateforme de veille technologique IA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-09T09:21:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-11-03T15:53:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/patent-landscape.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Christophe Lecante\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Christophe Lecante\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Patent Landscape or Freedom-to-Operate Study? | TKM | Plateforme de veille technologique IA","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Patent Landscape or Freedom-to-Operate Study? | TKM | Plateforme de veille technologique IA","og_description":"FTO and patent landscape: positioning an innovation within its technology environment","og_url":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/","og_site_name":"TKM | Plateforme de veille technologique IA","article_published_time":"2026-02-09T09:21:49+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-11-03T15:53:24+00:00","og_image":[{"width":600,"height":400,"url":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/patent-landscape.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Christophe Lecante","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Christophe Lecante","Estimated reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/"},"author":{"name":"Christophe Lecante","@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/7199a7ebde0d5d612c07b9058866e815"},"headline":"Patent Landscape or Freedom-to-Operate Study?","datePublished":"2026-02-09T09:21:49+00:00","dateModified":"2026-11-03T15:53:24+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/"},"wordCount":1460,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/patent-landscape.png","keywords":["Patent"],"articleSection":["Articles"],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/","url":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/","name":"Patent Landscape or Freedom-to-Operate Study? | TKM | Plateforme de veille technologique IA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/patent-landscape.png","datePublished":"2026-02-09T09:21:49+00:00","dateModified":"2026-11-03T15:53:24+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/patent-landscape.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/patent-landscape.png","width":600,"height":400,"caption":"patent landscape"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/patent-mapping-or-freedom-to-operate\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Accueil","item":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Articles","item":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/category\/articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Patent Landscape or Freedom-to-Operate Study?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/","name":"Technology Knowledge Metrix","description":"Eclairer vos strat\u00e9gies d&#039;innovation","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/#organization"},"alternateName":"TKM","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/#organization","name":"Technology Knowledge Metrix","alternateName":"TKM","url":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/technology-knowledge-metrix-logo2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/technology-knowledge-metrix-logo2.jpg","width":696,"height":696,"caption":"Technology Knowledge Metrix"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/fr.linkedin.com\/company\/tecnologyknowledgemetrix"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/7199a7ebde0d5d612c07b9058866e815","name":"Christophe Lecante","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/32e3ef4af26180452d2408ceca354454f84565cad3a3234dd4063809fd37c2b1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/32e3ef4af26180452d2408ceca354454f84565cad3a3234dd4063809fd37c2b1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/32e3ef4af26180452d2408ceca354454f84565cad3a3234dd4063809fd37c2b1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Christophe Lecante"},"url":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/author\/c-lecante\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8202"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8202\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10189,"href":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8202\/revisions\/10189"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tkminnovation.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}