Knowledge Protection and Input Complexity Arising from Open Innovation

Thijs Peeters, Wolfgang Sofka

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    Controlling unique knowledge is of increasing importance to firms. Therefore, firms use knowledge protection mechanisms to prevent competitors from imitating their knowledge. We study the effects of the complexity of knowledge
    inputs that arises from open innovation on the importance of two widely used protection mechanisms: patents and trademarks. We argue that this complexity makes the threat of imitation less predictable, and thus makes knowledge
    protection more important. By analyzing survey data of 938 German firms, we find that patents are more important for firms in industries with higher knowledge input complexity. Furthermore, we show that the dynamics and not the level of knowledge input complexity positively affect the importance of trademarks.
    Original languageEnglish
    Publication date2014
    Number of pages33
    Publication statusPublished - 2014
    EventThe DRUID Society Conference 2014: Entrepreneurship - Organization - Innovation - Copenhagen Business School, Frederiksberg, Denmark
    Duration: 16 Jun 201418 Jun 2014
    Conference number: 36
    http://druid8.sit.aau.dk/druid/registrant/index/login/cid/15

    Conference

    ConferenceThe DRUID Society Conference 2014
    Number36
    LocationCopenhagen Business School
    Country/TerritoryDenmark
    CityFrederiksberg
    Period16/06/201418/06/2014
    Internet address

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