generalpatent.com

What It Is

General Patent Corporation (GPC) is a U.S.-based boutique intellectual property services firm founded in 1987. It primarily serves patent owners in matters related to patent licensing, patent enforcement, and infringement litigation. It is not a SaaS or enterprise software platform in the traditional sense: the site does not present an online product, account system, API, automated workflow, or other software capabilities. Its focus is professional services and case execution.

Core Capabilities and Service Scope

GPC’s core offerings include patent licensing, patent enforcement, patent infringement litigation support, IP strategy, IP valuation, technology transfer, patent brokerage, patent sales/licensing monetization, and IP incubation investment through affiliated entities. Its messaging centers on helping patent owners—such as independent inventors, companies, and universities—negotiate, license, and enforce their rights through litigation when facing infringement. The site also notes that, when representing patent owners in monetization efforts, it may establish technology development companies, typically LLCs, to hold patent development, commercialization, and monetization activities.

Pricing and Trial

On pricing, GPC clearly states that it works on a contingency basis, meaning a success-fee model. This can suit patent owners who do not have hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars available for litigation. However, the website does not disclose specific revenue-share percentages, fixed costs, how attorney fees are handled, or exit terms. It does not offer a free software version or trial, but it does mention free, no-obligation phone consultations for patent enforcement matters, as well as a free newsletter subscription.

Gaps from a SaaS Perspective

From an enterprise software evaluation standpoint, GPC lacks most key SaaS elements: there is no visible information about third-party integrations, team permissions, data security and compliance, cloud deployment or self-hosting, APIs, or developer support. As such, it should not be purchased as patent management software, a contract management system, or an IP workflow platform. It is better understood as a professional services provider for high-value patent disputes and monetization projects.

Pros, Cons, and Best-Fit Users

Its strengths are its focused expertise, long operating history, and disclosure of multiple licensing and settlement cases. It may be a fit for inventors, SMEs, or universities that hold U.S. patent assets, have identified potential infringement, but lack litigation funding and enforcement experience. Its drawbacks are that the service is non-standardized, fee details are not transparent, and outcomes depend heavily on patent quality, infringement evidence, the litigation environment, and negotiation capabilities.

Access from China and Alternatives

The site does not provide details on access from China, payment methods, or cross-border service arrangements, so its accessibility status is marked as unknown. Chinese users dealing with U.S. market patent enforcement may consider it as one potential IP enforcement firm, but should conduct cross-border legal due diligence. If the need is day-to-day patent management or enforcement within China, it would be more appropriate to evaluate domestic IP law firms, patent agencies, IP commercialization platforms, or specialized IP management software.