In a rapidly evolving retail technology landscape, Alpha Modus stands out, not just for its innovations but for its unflinching commitment to defending them. What began as a small, research-driven AI firm has evolved into a determined enforcer of intellectual property rights, asserting its patent portfolio across the retail and tech sectors. At the heart of this strategy is founder and CEO William Alessi, who is not afraid to go up against billion-dollar companies to protect the work his team began over a decade ago.
"Our plan is simple," says Alessi. "We are no longer staying idle. We have stayed our course and have positioned the company financially to execute on real enforcement and real monetization. We may be small, but we are laser-focused and have a ferocious game plan."
Alpha Modus holds a robust patent portfolio, with open prosecution through 2034, giving the company nine more years to refine its claims in a space that is changing at an exponential rate. Their technology, centered around enhancing consumer experience at the point of sale, using AI-driven systems like smart shelving, planogram mapping, and retail behavior analytics, has become increasingly relevant in today's market. And according to Alessi, a significant portion of what's in use across modern retail environments infringes on these protected methods.
"We have seen the industry catch up with our innovation," says Alessi. "Retailers are deploying methods today that mirror the claims we patented years ago. A significant number of retailers that engage consumers at the point of sale overlap with our intellectual property."
But Alpha Modus is not just enforcing. They are also inviting. The company's strategy is not limited to litigation; it's designed to pull infringing companies into their growing ecosystem. A prime example is their recent licensing agreement with a former adversary that is now a partner. Initially, Alpha Modus filed a patent infringement suit related to the use of a smart shelving system. The lawsuit was settled after the firm agreed to a licensing partnership. Today, they are integrated into Alpha Modus's ecosystem, delivering services under the protection of Alpha Modus's patents.
"This was not just about winning a lawsuit," Alessi explains. "We turned confrontation into collaboration. We can provide licensees with a competitive edge, which will help them sell their products and services, and in turn, we will earn revenue without needing to own or deploy the hardware or software ourselves. It's a win-win."
To execute its legal strategy, Alpha Modus has engaged a respected law firm that has been prosecuting its patents since 2013. Noting that some of these infringement cases are on a full contingency basis, a move that reflects the strength and potential of the company's IP portfolio. According to Alessi, they currently have half a dozen active lawsuits and are continuing to scale up their legal actions through the remainder of 2025 and beyond.
The main goal is to convert infringement into licensing revenue and, ultimately, ecosystem growth.
"We are reaching out proactively," Alessi says. "We are engaging companies to license our technology; however, we are prepared to take legal action when necessary. We are not chasing settlements for a one-time win; we are seeking a long-term, scalable, recurring revenue model which is mutually beneficial."
Indeed, Alpha Modus is not a "patent troll" or a "non-practicing entity." They are a technology company that is actively engaging a robust sales pipeline to enable deployment. Through partnerships with strategic integrators and tech providers, they have demonstrated how licensing can lead to cooperation and commercial success.
Looking ahead, Alpha Modus is positioning itself as a key player in enterprise retail tech ecosystems. The company is planning to embed Alpha Modus's patent-protected services and technology into broader digital retail solutions. This means Alpha Modus could soon be earning royalties not just from licenses, but from being a core part of consulting, cloud, and infrastructure offerings.
"It's like collecting tolls on a highway we built," Alessi says. "We are not laying the asphalt anymore, we are now directing the traffic."
This dual-pronged model, assertive enforcement combined with collaborative licensing, sets Alpha Modus apart. The company has taken a stance that few small inventors dare to. In Alessi's words, "We are the Davids standing up to Goliaths."
As the company grows its ecosystem and continues to litigate and license, one thing is clear: Alpha Modus is not just defending its property. It's shaping the future of retail technology.
