What types of IP can be used for IP-backed loans?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

We typically consider patents as the primary asset in an IP-backed loan, although we also consider trade secrets and company data as valuable assets to loan against. A software company’s code base may also be collateralized, but typically as a secondary asset.

Trademarks occasionally can be considered, but they are on a case-by-case basis.

A typical borrower may have at least a handful of patents, but often has 10-50 patent assets as collateral.