Creating the missing link: applying collective marks to create clusters

摘要

Legal context Collective trademarks offer an adequate institutional setting to create clusters. The legal framework provided by this form of IP right offers an enabling environment for the creation of cooperative business arrangements, as applied in clusters. In particular, they allow small- and medium-sized enterprises to intensify their degree of interaction, so to build up networks, thus reducing costs and dependence on large firms, while at the same time increasing systems of collaboration.