Differentiation through IP 🎯 IP Management Pulse #31

Many IP experts in the IP community at I3PM, the HTB-EPO initiative, IP offices and institutions in national and regional innovation systems have asked Prof. Dr. Alexander Wurzer: “Where can you be sure not to miss any important IP management content?” In fact, you have to follow a number of interesting feeds to really keep up with the global developments around IP management. To make this easier he decided to offer his own personal newsletter for IP management. Here, you can find the latest issues in the archive and also subscribe. A fresh read with all important IP Management content will be sent to the subscribers every second Thursday at 7:00 (CET), so that they can start the day informed.

The next Newsletter will cover the following topics:

Differentiation through IP

𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘀. However, a closer look reveals a stark reality: many businesses are virtually indistinguishable from their competitors. This fundamental lack of differentiation poses a significant challenge for IP strategies and overall business success.

👉️ To the LinkedIn post

IP management standards in MSEs

In an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy, effective intellectual property (IP) management has become a critical factor for business success. 𝗕𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗣 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆, 𝗠𝗦𝗘𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆, 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

👉️ To the LinkedIn post

Green tech patents

Green technologies encompass a wide range of innovations designed to address environmental challenges. These include clean energy solutions, energy-efficient appliances, sustainable transport, advanced recycling methods, and green building materials. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗮 𝗽𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

👉️ To the LinkedIn post

Protection of deep tech innovations

𝗜𝗺𝗲𝗰’𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 (𝗜𝗔𝗣) 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗣 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵. By implementing bilateral IP agreements and sharing foreground IP among partners, imec created a unique “IP fingerprint” for each collaborator while retaining co-ownership rights. This approach enabled imec to evolve from a small research institute to a global player with €300 million in revenue by 2011.

👉️ To the LinkedIn post

IP in fashion

In 2023, Birkenstock sued retailers like Tchibo and Bestseller, alleging copycat designs infringed its intellectual property. The company argued its sandals — with Brutalist-inspired contours and ergonomic buckles — qualified as “works of applied art” under German law. Unlike 25-year design protection, copyright lasts 70 years post creator’s death, offering stronger, longer defense against imitations. On February 20, 2025, Germany’s Federal Court of Justice delivered a blow, ruling Birkenstocks lack the “artistic individuality” required for copyright.

👉️ To the LinkedIn post

New 🔗dIPlex entry: Patents in the Chemical Industry

Patents are crucial in the chemical industry to protect innovation and incentivize R&D investment. This is particularly important due to the high costs of developing new chemicals and processes, and the ease of imitating chemical products. Patents grant exclusive rights to new chemical entities, including specific isomers, polymorphs, and formulations.

New 🔗dIPlex entry: Controlling License Contract Compliance

In today’s complex business landscape, intellectual property and licensing agreements are vital for organizations across various sectors. License contract compliance refers to the process of monitoring and managing adherence to the terms outlined in these agreements, which can cover patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Ensuring compliance is crucial for both licensors and licensees, as it protects intellectual property, ensures fair compensation, and fosters positive relationships.

Whom to follow

Emily O’Neill is head of patents at BAT and represents the corporate sector on the Law Society In-House Division Committee. On her LinkedIn feed she shares information about current events and conferences organized by AIPPI and the key learnings. Additionally, she gives insights into the transformation of the tobacco industry.

Anji Miller is a technology transfer professional in the life sciences industry and active in organizations such as AUTM, ASTP and LESI. On her LinkedIn feed she provides an overview on current conferences and surveys for startups and tech transfer professionals as well as new job openings worldwide.

Economics of streaming & the rise of the music artists’ rights and compensation

As the big era of buying CDs and vinyl records has mostly passed, music streaming continues to hit the music industry by storm. It is a market estimated at $153 Billion with no signs of saturation. Nearly 2 billion music discoveries happen on Spotify every day. Headlines continue to sweep across the news media and this month the FT reports “Universal music strikes deal to reshape streaming economics”.

What is the meaning of strategic fit? – Case study Equinor

The concept of strategic fit is vital for organizations seeking sustainable competitive advantages. It refers to the alignment between a company’s internal resources and capabilities and external market conditions. This text explores the meaning of strategic fit and its practical application through the case study of Equinor, previously known as Statoil.

IP in the food industry

The food industry is constantly trying to create new variations of highly-processed frozen foods and snacks, which are satisfying the cravings of consumers. While they are not necessarily beneficial for the consumers’ health, they are nevertheless popular in most industrialized societies. But functional foods are also on the rise, which are being developed for various health benefits.

How to develop an IP strategy for a functional yoghurt company was discussed by the students of the MIPLM. In this blogpost and presentations therein, you can learn the step by step approach.

Fundamental value concepts for IP valuation

For the valuation of IP it is crucial to understand the different value concepts and choose the right concept for each individual case. A value concept is used to describe how the IP is exploited, i.e. the economic conversion mechanism. In general, we distinguish between two value concepts: the value-in-use concept and the transfer-value concept. In the value-in-use concept, the enterprise owning the IP is using the IP to create value, while in the transfer-value concept, value is created by licensing or transferring the IP to another company.