This past week, Elwha LLC was granted a patent that teaches a method of using neuromodulation to enhance learning. Sound familiar? That’s because the idea of using neuromodulation to enhance learning isn’t exactly a novel idea, and we’ve written about it before. Other startup companies such as Halo Neuroscience have also been busy patenting their neuromodulation technology. 

However, while companies such as Halo Inc. are actively manufacturing and selling products, Elwha LLC is just a shell corporation for the infamous non-practicing entity Intellectual Ventures. This means that the Elwha LLC has no plans to actually produce a product for sale, but rather plans to capitalize on the intellectual property through licensing or litigation via a process known as “patent-trolling.” 

Currently, the leading assignee’s in the AI Biotech/Diagnostics: Neurology sector includes IBM, Boston Scientific, Psomagen Inc., and Halo Neuro. Patents owned by Intellectual Ventures have previously been used as the basis for litigation against large name companies such as Facebook, Youtube, Samsung, and Kodak, so it would be no surprise if the company began pursuing litigation against the top assignees in the AI Biotech/Diagnostics: Neurology sector next. Make sure to subscribe to Magic Number® AI Biotech/Diagnostics: Neurology Patent Forecast® to stay up to date with the latest patent activity!