Last reviewed on October 3, 2026.
If you are replacing an IP management or docketing system, the shortlist usually includes Anaqua and Clarivate, which absorbed CPA Global in October 2020. Both sell software and services (renewals, annuities, docketing support), both serve corporations and law firms, and both have grown by acquisition. The practical question is which specific product from each vendor fits your team.
At a glance
| Anaqua | Clarivate (formerly CPA Global) | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Founded 2004, Boston, MA | CPA Global founded 1969 (Jersey); part of Clarivate since 1 Oct 2020 |
| Main corporate platform | AQX | IPfolio (on Salesforce) and FoundationIP |
| Law-firm docketing | PATTSY WAVE (acquired 2020); Patricia (via Patrix) | Inprotech; also FoundationIP for some firms |
| Services | Patent annuities, trademark renewals, foreign filing, docketing services | Patent and trademark renewals; IP data and research (Derwent, CompuMark) |
| Analytics | AcclaimIP patent analytics and portfolio reporting | Derwent patent data and analytics; CompuMark trademark screening |
| Pricing | Quote-based | Quote-based |
Product names are taken from each vendor's public website as checked in October 2026. Both companies regularly rename and bundle products, so confirm the current line-up in a demo.
Software: which product are you actually comparing?
"Anaqua vs CPA Global" is really several comparisons in one:
- Large corporate IP department: Anaqua AQX vs Clarivate IPfolio or FoundationIP. Look at invention-disclosure workflows, decision workflows for filing and renewals, outside-counsel collaboration and IP spend management.
- IP law firm: Anaqua PATTSY WAVE (or Patricia outside the US) vs Clarivate Inprotech. Look at docketing speed, automated patent-office downloads, rules coverage, and time and billing integration.
- Renewals only: if you mainly need someone to pay renewal fees, compare the service terms rather than the software: fee transparency, instruction deadlines, currency conversion and how renewal data flows back into your system.
Where Anaqua tends to stand out
- A single vendor focused only on IP management, with products for both corporate and law-firm buyers.
- PATTSY WAVE's strong installed base among US IP law firms, with automated USPTO downloads (AutoDocket).
- An increasing set of AI-assisted docketing and analytics tools marketed alongside the core platforms.
Where Clarivate tends to stand out
- CPA Global's long history in renewal payments, combined with Clarivate's IP data (Derwent for patents, CompuMark for trademarks).
- A choice of platforms, including IPfolio on Salesforce for organisations that already standardise on that ecosystem.
- Inprotech's long-standing use in IP law firms internationally.
Risks to check with either vendor
- Roadmap clarity. Both vendors maintain several overlapping products. Ask which product will receive new development over the next three to five years and what the migration path is if one is retired.
- Data migration. Docket data errors are the main risk in any switch. Ask who validates migrated deadlines, and plan a parallel-run period.
- Services lock-in. Bundled renewal services can make the software look cheaper. Price the software and services separately so you can compare like for like.
- Security and AI. Ask for current SOC 2 / ISO 27001 evidence and how AI features process unpublished invention data. See our vendor due-diligence guide.
About pricing. We do not publish price figures for these products. Both vendors quote on a case-by-case basis or change list prices often, and what you pay depends on seats, data volume, modules and contract term. Ask each vendor for a written quote on the same scope.
Other vendors worth a look
Computer Packages Inc. (CPI) is an independent alternative with software plus annuity services; Alt Legal suits trademark-heavy teams and smaller firms. Dennemeyer is another long-standing provider of IP management software (DIAMS) and renewal services. For a full selection process, read our IP management software buyer's guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is CPA Global still a company?
CPA Global is part of Clarivate, which completed the acquisition on 1 October 2020. Its software and renewal services are now sold under the Clarivate brand.
What is the difference between Anaqua and CPA Global?
Both sell IP management software and IP services. Anaqua is an IP-management specialist (AQX, PATTSY WAVE, Patricia). CPA Global is now part of Clarivate, which sells IPfolio, FoundationIP and Inprotech alongside renewal services and IP data products such as Derwent and CompuMark.
Which is better for an IP law firm?
It depends on your docketing workload and region. Firms usually compare Anaqua's PATTSY WAVE with Clarivate's Inprotech. Run a demo using your own matters and docketing rules.
Do Anaqua and Clarivate publish prices?
No. Both quote individually based on users, portfolio size, modules and services.