Intellectual Property

Chapter One

Intellectual property is the central resource for creating wealth in almost all industries. The foundation of commercial power has shifted from capital resources to intellectual property. In fact, the definition of capital resources is shifting. No longer does the term "capital resource" bring to mind balance sheets of cash or pictures of sprawling manufacturing plants. Capital resources are now dominated by intellectual property such as technological know-how, patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.

Corporations once dominated industries by acquiring and managing extensive holdings of natural resources and manufacturing facilities. Barriers to entry were high because enormous amounts of fixed asset investments were required to displace well-entrenched players. Today companies that once dominated industries are finding themselves fighting for survival. Upstart companies are creating new products and services based not on extensive natural resource holdings or tangible property but on intellectual property resources. Management of these properties will distinguish the winners from the losers in th ... read full excerpt from Intellectual Property: Valuation, Exploitation, and Infringement Damages ebook