Survey of Small Business Use of Intellectual Property Protection

摘要

Small and large enterprises use the intellectual property protection system in avariety of ways. The study's goal was to gain a greater understanding of the forms of intellectual property protection favored by large and small enterprises depending on their circumstances. The difficulties they face with the intellectual property protection system and their recommendations for improving the system also are examined. The study shows that when small enterprises using the intellectual property protection system are compared with large enterprises that also use the system, relationships with other enterprises and organizations are more crucial to the small enterprises than to the large enterprises. Small enterprises have more problems with infringements of intellectual property, with the Freedom of Information Act, and in meeting patent costs--particularly the fees of private patent attorneys. Both technology licenses granted and licenses received are more important for the operating income of the small enterprises so involved.