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| Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) as Part of Corporate Strategy? |
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The management of intellectual property rights belongs to the core activities of most industrial companies. Trademarks are the backbone in marketing consumer goods. Without active and aggressive trademark protection and enforcement, no brand would survive. Without the clear definition of industrial property rights, joint ventures or R&D cooperation would not be feasible. There would be no return on multi-million dollar investments in the pharmaceutical industry without patent protection. |
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| Product introduction could not occur in a safe manner if patent clearance was not an early stage in the development process. Without first providing a solid IPR-backbone, defining marketing outlets through franchising, licensing or joint ventures would not be possible. Competitors must be kept at a "respectful distance" from the IPR-portfolio of a company if that company wants to protect its markets and maintain its profit margins. This cannot be achieved without implementing an aggressive IPR-policy which includes the willingness to enforce rights in court. Intellectual property right management is an interdisciplinary process and must have a place in any corporate strategy. |
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