Title: IP and open innovation: theory and practice

Authors: Raffaella Manzini; Valentina Lazzarotti; Luisa Pellegrini

Addresses: University Carlo Cattaneo – LIUC, Corso Matteotti 22, 21053 Castellanza (VA), Italy. ' University Carlo Cattaneo – LIUC, Corso Matteotti 22, 21053 Castellanza (VA), Italy. ' Department of Systems and Automation, University of Pisa, Via Diotisalvi 2, Pisa, Italy

Abstract: In this paper, the objective is to explore the relationship between intellectual property and open innovation along the innovation process. The study is based upon a literature analysis and a multiple case study involving three Italian companies which adopted an open approach to innovation. As a result, this paper proposes a framework which explains how different IP protection mechanisms, either legal or strategic, can be exploited to protect technology and know-how in collaborations concerning different phases of the innovation funnel. The framework highlights that the integration between legal and strategic IP tools is necessary to increase protection. However, the use of such tools becomes effective only when grounded on a set of managerial and organisational interventions concerning the management of human resources and of internal flows of knowledge and information. This paper also sheds some light on the role of IP protection mechanisms as enablers/facilitators/limiting factors for companies who want to open their innovation process to external partners.

Keywords: technological collaboration; appropriability; open innovation; patents; intellectual property; protection mechanisms; trade secrets; IP strategies; Italy; legal mechanisms; strategic mechanisms; technology protection; know-how; innovation funnel; managerial interventions; organisational interventions; human resource management; HRM; internal flows; knowledge flows; information flows; enablers; facilitators; external partners; Saes Getters; MR&D Institute; R&D; research and development; Gimac; technology marketing; markets; long-term positions; sustainable positions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTMKT.2012.046903

International Journal of Technology Marketing, 2012 Vol.7 No.2, pp.119 - 134

Received: 30 Jul 2011
Accepted: 06 Jan 2012
Published online: 29 Aug 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article