Patent holders — including technology transfer offices — don’t have to make the difficult judgment call about whether to spend often-scarce resources on defending their assets in infringement cases. A new option has emerged in which a third-party essentially foots the bill for that litigation, in exchange for a cut of the proceeds. In a still-struggling economy, pressing ahead with an expensive court fight may be even harder to justify, particularly for public universities that must answer to taxpayers and legislators. Michael J. Cannata wants those TTOs to know he’s here to help. The Toronto-based firm he’s managing director of, BOCA Advisory Services Inc., specializes in monetizing patent assets through licensing, sale or, importantly, litigation. BOCA is one of a growing number of firms that will now fund infringement cases with no cost or risk to the client, who only pays out of the proceeds if the firm wins an award. Of course, these firms choose their clients carefully, but if you’ve got a strong case and a weak stomach for the risk, the third-party funding option may be a perfect fit. A detailed article on the use of third-party litigation funding appears in the November issue of Technology Transfer Tactics. For subscription information, CLICK HERE.