Shopify is looking to patent cloud, package processing and retail sensor technology as the e-commerce firm continues to expand its real-world services, including a billion-dollar push into logistics.
The Ottawa-based firm, which reports fourth-quarter earnings Wednesday, has historically shown little interest in patenting its innovations. But following its largest-ever acquisition and a deal with an American telecommunications giant, Shopify and its subsidiaries now hold at least four U.S. patents with another half a dozen applications outstanding. The company is also adding to its small in-house IP team as it expands into new lines of business where the ownership of intellectual property could prove more valuable.
