Questel builds on AI plan with Swiss partnership
Questel and ipQuants join forces to improve patent prosecution with AI tech | Partnership promises improved data analysis, trend spotting, and strategic decision making for patent prosecutors | Follows company’s recent acquisition of qatent.
Questel has partnered with the Swiss-based company ipQuants in a collaboration that aims to help patent prosecutors use AI to perform data analysis, trend spotting, and strategic decision-making.
The partnership, announced March 26, promised to deliver a software solution that streamlines workflows for IP attorneys and also grants access to analytics that were previously out of reach.
Questel’s IP management system solution, Equinox, now incorporates an additional AI-driven patent prosecution service alongside its other functions.
ipQuants built the AI system Qthena, which provides patents and innovation insights tailored for strategists and innovators, makes legal and strategy insights accessible, and has a chat function powered by GPT large language model.
Commenting on the announcement, Questel CEO Charles Besson, said the partnership added the automation of document collection and response generation during prosecution, while also minimising the use of emails for correspondence.
“This is particularly useful when combined with an IP management system,” said Besson.
Tony Afram, CEO of ipQuants, described Questel as having a “global leadership, innovative mindset, and commitment to prioritising customer experience”, which made them an “ideal” partner for ipQuants.
“Together, we’re truly excited to empower IP professionals worldwide to achieve superior results more efficiently,” added Afram.
Questel pursues AI strategy with M&A
Earlier this month, Questel acquired a tech company that helps IP professionals draft patents using AI.
The acquisition of qatent, announced March 8, aims to use AI tools and services to improve global IP portfolio management, fits a Questel plan to “push AI-driven solutions within the IP industry”, the company said.
Qatent, originating from the AI research centre INRIA Paris, was founded by a French IP attorney and a German AI researcher Université Paris-Saclay.
Founded in 1978, Questel was formerly a France Télécom subsidiary before separating in 2001 and focussing on IP.
In the last five years, Questel has increased its employee count from 250 to 1,500 and its subsidiaries now include Equinox, Markify, DoeLegal, Brandstock, and Yoomap.
Headquartered in Paris, the IT service management company has offices in North America, Japan, China, Germany, India, Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore.
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