My Dad Won a Restaurant in a Poker Game — But It Was Losing Money. Now It's a Historic Business.
Our restaurant is called Mr. Henry's, and it's an institution in the heart of Washington, D.C. — just six blocks away from the U.S. Capitol. A lot of people think I can run this place with my back turned. It's old and established, they figure, so what's there really to do? But that's not the case.
The restaurant business is never an easy one — especially not today, with the economy the way it is. So I have to keep evolving. But when I look back at the history of Mr. Henry's, I can see that's nothing new. If a business can last long enough to be historic, that's entirely because of its ability to change.
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Please note that not only your legal counsel team but also others, such as product, technology, marketing and finance, must contribute to this ranking system, as pruning cannot be undone. The goal is to ensure that patents are evaluated through a business lens, not just a legal one. Consider using patent management tools that provide full portfolio visibility and enable seamless collaboration as part of your patent pruning process. Related: 4 Surprising Patent Myths That Could Cost You Big — What You Need to Know Now Pruning a patent portfolio isn't just about saving money; it's about fueling what's next with the reclaimed budget. In 2020, IBM stepped back from chasing patent volume. "We're no longer pursuing patent leadership," they said. "We're being more selective." The result? Fewer filings, stronger focus and more investment in high-growth areas like AI and quantum computing. That's the lesson: Pruning isn't cutting back. It's reallocating toward where your business is growing. Because IP should follow your future, not fund your past.
