Fabless semiconductor companies usually use third-party IP blocks when developing ICs. An important IP is on-chip ESD protection. Caution must be exercised in choosing the right ESD IP to avoid patent infringement and inefficient ESD clamps.
Thomas Ako made a presentation about the IP selection process on the 2021 IP-SOC event in Grenoble in December 2021.
SOFICS - Solutions for ICs 