Why Corporate Tree and Entity Resolution is Difficult
by Marc Solfrian - Lighthouse IP
At first glance, it seems simple.
A company is a company. You see a name, maybe an address, and you think you know who you’re dealing with. But once you try to connect data points across jurisdictions, timeframes, and sources, things quickly get messy. What starts as a basic task, grouping records under the right corporate owner, turns into a slow crawl through inconsistencies, gaps, and outdated references. For anyone working with IP data, competitive intelligence, or portfolio analysis, the challenge of mapping corporate trees is very real. And very underestimated.
Data is fragmented. Everywhere.
There’s no single source of truth. Official registers, financial databases, trademark filings, and patent records all offer pieces of the puzzle, but no complete picture. Each source has its own standards, update cycles, and language issues. Some include legal entities, others only brands or operational arms. Reconciling them takes effort, context, and often, guesswork.
Names don’t help much.
Company names aren’t consistent. You’ll find “Siemens AG,” “Siemens Ltd,” “Siemens Energy,” and “Siemens Healthineers.” Sometimes these refer to the same group, sometimes not. Add translations, typos, abbreviations, and legal suffixes, and automated systems start to fall apart. A perfect match on paper might still point to the wrong entity in practice.
M&A moves faster than data.
Corporate hierarchies are not static. Mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, and rebrandings happen constantly. But public datasets are slow to catch up. By the time a merger is reflected in one system, other sources still show the pre-merger structure. That creates gaps and sometimes contradictions in ownership tracking.
Multinationals multiply the complexity.
Global players operate under dozens or even hundreds of legal entities. One group might hold patents in Japan, trademarks in Europe, and R&D centers in the US, each under a different subsidiary. Local naming conventions and registration rules make it even harder to piece together the corporate tree across borders.
And yet, resolution matters. A lot.
If you’re serious about competitive intelligence, portfolio strategy, or legal risk assessment, you need to know who owns what. Incorrect mapping can lead to missed infringement risks, flawed market analysis, or undervaluing key assets. Getting the tree right is not a nice-to-have. It’s essential.
What helps? Context, tools, and experience.
There’s no silver bullet, but some things do work. Start with global identifiers like LEIs or internal IDs. Combine multiple data sources, track changes over time, and don’t underestimate the value of expert validation, especially when decisions carry weight. At Lighthouse IP, we’ve built systems and teams to manage this complexity because we know what’s at stake.
Final word: It takes work. But it pays off.
Entity resolution is not glamorous. It’s detail work. But it lays the foundation for strategic clarity. And companies that get it right are better positioned to spot trends early, to protect their assets, and to make smarter, faster decisions.
About the author Marc Solfrian - Lighthouse IP
Experienced IP professional with decades of expertise in intellectual property management and international leadership. Strong focus on customer-centric, solution-oriented strategies, driving innovation and business success across global markets.
