Title: Large-scale open innovation: open source vs. patent pools

Authors: Thierry Rayna, Ludmila Striukova

Addresses: London Metropolitan University, 84 Moorgate, London EC2M 6SQ, UK. ' University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK

Abstract: The traditional view of the innovation, which implies that companies innovate on their own, has been recently challenged by the |open innovation| concept promoting the use of external knowledge. Collaboration between firms has always existed in one way or another, however, large-scale open innovation is now the next step for many companies. This article conducts a comparative analysis of the two largest open innovation structures: patent pools and open source. The issues of financial and non-financial benefits, appropriability, standards, cooperation, risks and feasibility are, in turn, discussed for each of the structures. Finally, a synthesis of the results is established and recommendations in regard to the adoption of these structures are given.

Keywords: open innovation: open source; patent pools; intellectual property rights; IPR; patents; external knowledge; financial benefits; non-financial benefits; appropriability; standards; cooperation; risks; feasibility; collaboration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2010.035986

International Journal of Technology Management, 2010 Vol.52 No.3/4, pp.477 - 496

Published online: 06 Apr 2013 *

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