PWC IP Database Boosts Active BV Arena

Sellers and traders of intellectual property services, such as trademarks, patents and valuation services now have a way to speed up the process through the Internet.

The Houston office of PricewaterhouseCoopers [1] operates the Intellectual Property Exchange [2], and online database of sellers and traders who offer IP online. The Web site also includes a knowledge library with links, online articles and access to other services.

The intellectual property marketplace is a hot topic for the accounting profession, given the new specialty CPA/ABV [3] accreditation offered by AICPA, and the entrance of organizations like the Financial Consulting Group [4], an association of more than 55 CPA firms who joint venture on business valuation and litigation engagements.

PWC has offered the site's services since summer 1999 for individual users at a rate of $25 to access the service, and charges $200 to list any properties on the site. There now is a new corporate rate--$500 to $2,000 annually-- charged for multiple users.