TY - JOUR
T1 - Innovation protection by SMEs
T2 - The case of the north east of the Netherlands
AU - Mol, Mischa C.
AU - Masurel, Enno
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - SMEs do not own many patents. Although the reasons for not patenting have been the subject of much research, little is known on the alternatives that SMEs use. This article discusses a case study on the protection of innovations by SMEs by means of an analysis of the patent data and 20 interviews with owners or managers. This case study confirms the findings that SMEs do not own many patents, but adds to this that the SMEs that do own patents do not let them expire as much as bigger companies. The interviews showed that 65% of the respondents favoured other forms of protection, especially confidentiality clauses. The interviews also showed that age, type of innovation and R&D expenses influence the adoption of protective actions.
AB - SMEs do not own many patents. Although the reasons for not patenting have been the subject of much research, little is known on the alternatives that SMEs use. This article discusses a case study on the protection of innovations by SMEs by means of an analysis of the patent data and 20 interviews with owners or managers. This case study confirms the findings that SMEs do not own many patents, but adds to this that the SMEs that do own patents do not let them expire as much as bigger companies. The interviews showed that 65% of the respondents favoured other forms of protection, especially confidentiality clauses. The interviews also showed that age, type of innovation and R&D expenses influence the adoption of protective actions.
KW - Innovation
KW - Intellectual property
KW - Netherlands
KW - Patents
KW - Small and medium-sized enterprises
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84870544578&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1504/IJIPM.2011.041080
DO - 10.1504/IJIPM.2011.041080
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84870544578
SN - 1478-9647
VL - 4
SP - 153
EP - 164
JO - International Journal of Intellectual Property Management
JF - International Journal of Intellectual Property Management
IS - 3
ER -