Why do innovators not apply for trademarks? The role of information asymmetries and collaborative innovation
(2020) In Industry and Innovation 27(1-2). p.134-154- Abstract
This paper analyses the underlying reasons why innovators do not apply for trademarks for all of their valuable inventions. Using a unique database of UK innovations linked to innovative firms, the empirical analysis highlights the many ways that firms can alleviate information asymmetries and the constraints imposed by collaborative innovation without taking recourse to trademarks. When information asymmetries are not at stake, i.e. when firms use an already existing trademark for their innovations or when they use intermediaries for its distribution, trademarks no longer serve their purpose, leading firms to avoid using it for their innovations. Open innovation also decreases the incentive to trademark, especially when the innovative... (More)
This paper analyses the underlying reasons why innovators do not apply for trademarks for all of their valuable inventions. Using a unique database of UK innovations linked to innovative firms, the empirical analysis highlights the many ways that firms can alleviate information asymmetries and the constraints imposed by collaborative innovation without taking recourse to trademarks. When information asymmetries are not at stake, i.e. when firms use an already existing trademark for their innovations or when they use intermediaries for its distribution, trademarks no longer serve their purpose, leading firms to avoid using it for their innovations. Open innovation also decreases the incentive to trademark, especially when the innovative process involves users, mainly because of property rights issues or because the innovator prefers to use the clients’ own distribution channels.
(Less)
- author
- Athreye, Suma and Fassio, Claudio LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2020
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- innovation, intellectual property, open innovation, Trademarks
- in
- Industry and Innovation
- volume
- 27
- issue
- 1-2
- pages
- 21 pages
- publisher
- Routledge
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85067548321
- ISSN
- 1366-2716
- DOI
- 10.1080/13662716.2019.1616533
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- ea056a95-6907-491b-b04e-9ab893ab63fd
- date added to LUP
- 2019-07-05 12:46:49
- date last changed
- 2024-01-16 04:57:02
@article{ea056a95-6907-491b-b04e-9ab893ab63fd, abstract = {{<p>This paper analyses the underlying reasons why innovators do not apply for trademarks for all of their valuable inventions. Using a unique database of UK innovations linked to innovative firms, the empirical analysis highlights the many ways that firms can alleviate information asymmetries and the constraints imposed by collaborative innovation without taking recourse to trademarks. When information asymmetries are not at stake, i.e. when firms use an already existing trademark for their innovations or when they use intermediaries for its distribution, trademarks no longer serve their purpose, leading firms to avoid using it for their innovations. Open innovation also decreases the incentive to trademark, especially when the innovative process involves users, mainly because of property rights issues or because the innovator prefers to use the clients’ own distribution channels.</p>}}, author = {{Athreye, Suma and Fassio, Claudio}}, issn = {{1366-2716}}, keywords = {{innovation; intellectual property; open innovation; Trademarks}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{1-2}}, pages = {{134--154}}, publisher = {{Routledge}}, series = {{Industry and Innovation}}, title = {{Why do innovators not apply for trademarks? The role of information asymmetries and collaborative innovation}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13662716.2019.1616533}}, doi = {{10.1080/13662716.2019.1616533}}, volume = {{27}}, year = {{2020}}, }