Case Study: Global Consumer Products Corporation achieves rapid, cost-efficient Freedom-to-Operate clearance with RWS

Delivering a bespoke Freedom to Operate program

A large global consumer goods company needed a robust Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) program to assess infringement risk across key territories before products launched. Operating a fast-to-market model that clears hundreds of products and features each year, the client required high-quality, cost-controlled research that met tight outside-counsel deadlines and handled large, growing volumes.

RWS IP Research designed a bespoke FTO program with refined territorial coverage (including native-language Chinese searches), a lean search protocol, fixed pricing, and secure online delivery via AOP Connect. The solution shortened research timelines (initially to 2–3 weeks and standard searches to 5–7 working days), scaled to handle surging order volumes, improved cost-efficiency and opinion-readiness, and added ongoing improvements plus SotA and invalidity search support.