License on Transfer network

Overview
The License on Transfer (LOT) network is a cooperative patent-licensing agreement among Asana, Canon, Dropbox, Google, Newegg and SAP that will cut down on patent troll litigation and the growing practice of patent privateering.

The LOT agreement is a new kind of royalty-free cross-license meant to address significant patent litigation issues. Member companies receive a license when the patents are transferred out of the LOT group. That means that companies retain their right to enforce a patent so long as they retain ownership of it. However, as soon as it is sold, a license to the other members becomes effective, protecting them from attacks by the troll to which the patent was sold.

The agreement includes several other provisions that preserve a patent portfolio's value, including carve-outs for certain M&A transactions and change of control.