Anaqua Extends Strategic IP Management Partnership with Sony to Enhance Innovation and Global Growth

Anaqua, a leading provider of intellectual property (IP) management technology and services, announced on July 7, 2026, the renewal of its partnership with Sony Group Corporation. This extended collaboration aims to strengthen Sony’s use of intellectual property as a fundamental driver of its business strategy, innovation, and global expansion. Anaqua has been Sony’s chosen IP management platform provider since 2018.

The renewed agreement reflects Sony’s evolving business priorities and the increasing significance of IP intelligence across its integrated operations. Anaqua will continue to support the consolidation and integration of Sony’s IP management systems encompassing patents, designs, trademarks, and related rights across Sony’s diverse global business units.

Sony operates in multiple sectors including Games & Network Services, Music, Pictures, Entertainment Technology & Services, and Imaging & Sensing Solutions. It is recognized as one of the largest patent filers worldwide in core technology areas such as gaming and imaging. Sony’s patent portfolio is also highly cited, underscoring its role as a benchmark for genuine innovation in these fields.

Under the renewed partnership, Anaqua will provide Sony with its AQX® platform, the AcclaimIP analytics solution, and services for patent and design annuities as well as trademark renewals. Concurrently, Sony is actively evaluating and integrating Anaqua’s advanced AI-powered capabilities. These AI solutions are designed to deliver deeper insights, accelerate strategic planning, and enhance governance over brand and innovation assets, aligning with Sony’s broader transformation objectives.

Asashi Shimodaira, Head of IP and Technology Standardization at Sony Group, emphasized the importance of efficiency in innovation management. “The pace of innovation is accelerating like never before,” Shimodaira said. “Efficiency is crucial, and that’s one of the key reasons why we chose Anaqua. The latest version with AI-powered functions promises significant process improvements. We aim to free up time for more strategic thinking.”

This collaboration supports Sony’s strategic shift from traditional IP protection toward a portfolio-driven, data-centric approach. By leveraging Anaqua’s AQX platform, Sony intends to inform decision-making across its business units, accelerate innovation cycles, and support emerging technologies and new market opportunities.

Justin Crotty, CEO of Anaqua, highlighted Sony’s leadership in leveraging IP for business growth. “Sony has consistently been at the forefront of reimagining how intellectual property supports business growth,” Crotty stated. “From our initial partnership to our evolving, long-term collaboration, we’re proud to support Sony with AI-driven technologies that help turn IP into a powerful engine for innovation and competitive advantage.”

Kazuyasu Adachi, president and general manager for Japan & APAC at Anaqua, noted the strategic importance of the partnership. “Sony has a clear vision for elevating IP as a driver of business growth and global competitiveness,” Adachi said. “The strong partnership with Sony underscores Anaqua’s longstanding commitment to supporting global enterprises operating across complex, multi-business environments and regions. By integrating agreements across Sony entities and standardizing platforms and data, Sony is positioned to scale best practices, improve collaboration, and continuously refine IP strategy in a rapidly changing global landscape.”

Anaqua supports Sony with a globally coordinated, cross-functional team that combines deep technical expertise and consistent high-quality service across Japan and worldwide. This integration allows Anaqua to provide tailored, region-specific support while maintaining alignment across markets. Insights gained from close collaboration in Japan help optimize Sony’s operations and user experience, while Anaqua’s global perspective drives continuous improvement at scale.

Headquartered in Boston, Anaqua serves nearly half of the top 100 U.S. patent filers and numerous global brands, alongside a growing number of law firms worldwide. Its IP management platforms, including AQX®, PATTSY WAVE®, and RightHub®, offer best-practice workflows enhanced by big data analytics and technology-enabled services. These solutions create an intelligent environment designed to inform IP strategy, enable decision-making, and streamline operations tailored to diverse client needs. Over two million IP professionals utilize Anaqua’s platforms globally.