The role of IT for managing intellectual property – An empirical analysis

The effective management of intellectual property (IP) is an increasingly complex challenge in today's global knowledge economy, especially for firms with large IP portfolios. Although information technology (IT) tools are a means to support the management of these portfolios, there is little insight in how firms actually make use of IT tools in this regard. Hence, this article analyzes how and for which processes firms use IT tools to support their IP management. Based on a data set of 106 IP intensive firms worldwide, we find that firms use at least one of three major IT tools for IP management: search tools, administrative tools, and evaluation tools. We also find that the use of IT for IP processes is decreasing along the IP value chain: firms use IT mainly in the early IP generation phase, e.g., for absorbing technological developments. The article concludes by outlining where and how IT tools can improve the management of IP.

► Use of information technology in managing intellectual property. ► Worldwide questionnaire sent to many firms; in-depth analysis of 7 large firms. ► Finding – three major categories of IT tools for IP management: search, administrative and evaluation tools. ► Finding – IT tools used most in early stages of IP management. ► Finding – IT tools used most for patents.