What is AR/VR technology?

Augmented Reality (AR) overlays digital information on the real world, while Virtual Reality (VR) creates fully immersive digital environments. These technologies are considered the next major computing platform after smartphones, which explains why companies are racing to develop and protect their intellectual property in this space. Examples include smart glasses, headsets, and software that enables interactive digital experiences.

Why is intellectual property important in the AR/VR industry?

Intellectual property (IP) in AR/VR includes patents for hardware components, software algorithms, and design techniques that make immersive experiences possible. As highlighted by the Apple-Snap lawsuit mentioned in this theme, these technologies represent years of research and billions in investment. Companies with strong IP portfolios can license their technology, block competitors, or gain significant market advantage, making their IP extremely valuable.

What are "insider threats" in cybersecurity?

Insider threats refer to security risks that come from within an organization, such as employees, contractors, or partners who have legitimate access to systems and data. As mentioned in this theme's description, the lawsuit between Apple and Snap involves an engineer allegedly taking confidential information when changing employers. Cybersecurity companies develop tools specifically to detect and prevent this type of data exfiltration by monitoring unusual access patterns and file transfers.

What does "data exfiltration" mean?

Data exfiltration refers to the unauthorized transfer of sensitive information from a company's systems to an external location. This could involve an employee downloading confidential files before leaving for a competitor (as alleged in the Apple lawsuit), or hackers stealing data through malware. Several companies in this theme specialize in technologies that detect and block such unauthorized transfers to protect valuable intellectual property.

How do dividend payments work for these stocks?

Dividends are portions of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, usually on a quarterly basis. The "Dividend Yield" data point shows what percentage return you'd receive annually from dividends at the current stock price, while the "Dividend Payment Date" indicates when the next payment is scheduled. Not all companies pay dividends, especially growth-focused technology firms that prefer to reinvest profits into research and development.

15 handpicked stocks

AR/VR's IP Battlefield

Invest in the companies creating groundbreaking augmented reality technologies and those protecting these valuable digital assets. This collection brings together innovative tech developers and cybersecurity specialists poised to benefit from the high-stakes race for AR/VR dominance.

Han Tan | Market Analyst

Updated 2 days ago | Published at juillet 2