Uncertain Intellectual Property Conditions, Knowledge Appropriation and Access: Evidence from Genomics

Publication Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

7-2012

Abstract

Innovating technology firms often endure a sustained period of uncertain intellectual property rights (IPR) protection before patents could be granted to their valuable knowledge assets. This problem is exacerbated as firms increasingly develop their innovations or operate in countries with weak IPR institutional environments. But how does IPR uncertainty affect firms’ propensity toward knowledge appropriation– capturing of economic value from their knowledge assets– and toward providing access to these assets? We address this question using matching genomics patents and papers covering 362 firms. Under uncertain IPR conditions, firms disclose and accumulate more knowledge through open science (follow-on publishing) but shift to knowledge appropriation through commercial science (follow-on patenting) after IPR uncertainty is narrowed. This effect is most salient when firms develop their knowledge assets or operate under strong IPR institutions. For highly science-based assets, firms continue tapping into open science for access and reciprocity in knowledge acquisition from scientific community.

Discipline

Technology and Innovation

Publisher

Open and User Innovation Conference

City or Country

Harvard Business School, Boston, M.A., U.S.A.

External URL

http://userinnovation.mit.edu/conf2012/day_1_talks.html

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