Report Overview:

Only in recent decades have issues related to the protection of intellectual property rights come to be seen as significant sources of legal and business uncertainty. In part, this uncertainty derives from the fact that intellectual property is importantly different from physical property. Intellectual property can be stolen by an act as simple as broadcasting an idea without the permission of the originator." -- Former Federal Reserve Chairman Allan Greenspan in his remarks at a 2004 conference on Economic Policy Research, at Stanford University

The business landscape is littered with intellectual property landmines. Microsoft, Apple Computer, Sun Microsystems, Medtronic, Research in Motion and Nintendo are just a few of the companies that have settled patent infringement disputes for hundreds of millions of dollars. Toshiba paid a $425 million judgment to Lexar for violating trade secrets. Pfizer's patents for Viagra were ruled invalid in China and Microsoft faces similar concerns over its Office product in South Korea. In the battle of protecting intellectual property, the IP lawyer is on the front lines. It is the IP lawyer who:

Drafts the patent applications, knowing that the defensibility of the firm's intellectual capital hangs on each word that the IP lawyer crafts.
Must have the prescience to secure valuable IP rights throughout the world in anticipation of his company later doing business in remote markets.
Must defend his company against attacks by patent trolls.
Must have the business savvy to transform fierce litigation into mutually beneficial licensing agreements.
Must retain patent, trademark, and copyright exclusivity while avoiding anti-trust challenges.

Featured Interviewees:

This report includes interviews with many of the nation's foremost authorities on the intellectual property law. Intellectual Property Litigation is extremely expensive and becoming increasingly common. From 1984 to 1999, the mean loss absorbed by companies faced with IP litigation was $28.7 million in total losses. Microsoft, Apple Computer, Sun Microsystems, Medtronic, Research in Motion and Nintendo are just a few of the companies that have settled patent infringement disputes for hundreds of millions of dollars. Cisco Systems reports that it is named as a defendant in at least one IP lawsuit each week. IncreMental Advantage Publishing is proud to release its unique report on Legal Imperatives on Intellectual Property Management.

For more information on this, or any report, please contact
Scott Pearlman at 609-919-1895 ext. 111 or email spearlman@incrementaladvantage.com.