IP rights are important assets in knowledge-driven, innovative economies. Patents in particular are one of the key drivers behind technological innovation.Patent publications are arguably the best – and often the only – way to get insight into the R&D activities of innovative companies. Analysing public patent information in order to gain technical or strategic insights is denoted as ‘patent landscaping’. This article explains why patent databases are an invaluable source of technological and strategic information and how patent landscaping can help businesses to capitalize on this untapped potential.