Stephan M. Wagner, Alexander A. Fink, Jonas F. Ehrnsperger, Philipp Düpree
{"title":"Supporting Intellectual Property Protection: Blockchain Technology as a Catalyst for Open Innovation","authors":"Stephan M. Wagner, Alexander A. Fink, Jonas F. Ehrnsperger, Philipp Düpree","doi":"10.1177/00081256251320366","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"As the access, sharing, and transfer of intellectual property (IP) are central to open innovation (OI) projects, preventing the leakage of IP is critical. The emergence of blockchain has prompted organizations to seek support from this technology to protect IP. However, the potential applications, challenges, and benefits for OI projects at the technology/legal interface are not well understood. This article shows that while blockchain technology is not the solution to all IP protection problems, it has the potential to significantly improve the status quo by creating an immutable record of the existence, integrity, and ownership of files at specific points in time. It also offers guidance to practitioners on how to extend and complement their existing IP protection, ultimately enhancing their negotiating leverage and collaboration with OI partners.","PeriodicalId":9605,"journal":{"name":"California Management Review","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"California Management Review","FirstCategoryId":"91","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00081256251320366","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BUSINESS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
As the access, sharing, and transfer of intellectual property (IP) are central to open innovation (OI) projects, preventing the leakage of IP is critical. The emergence of blockchain has prompted organizations to seek support from this technology to protect IP. However, the potential applications, challenges, and benefits for OI projects at the technology/legal interface are not well understood. This article shows that while blockchain technology is not the solution to all IP protection problems, it has the potential to significantly improve the status quo by creating an immutable record of the existence, integrity, and ownership of files at specific points in time. It also offers guidance to practitioners on how to extend and complement their existing IP protection, ultimately enhancing their negotiating leverage and collaboration with OI partners.
期刊介绍:
California Management Review (CMR) serves as a vital link between academia and management practice, offering leading-edge research with practical applications. Edited at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, CMR covers a wide range of management topics, including innovation, strategy, sustainable practices, and human resources. CMR ranks among the top management journals globally, distributing articles through outlets like Harvard Business School Publishing and SAGE Publishing. Focused on bridging academia and practice, CMR ensures that all articles are based on rigorous academic research while providing actionable insights for managers. In addition to regular issues, CMR publishes special issues and sections on relevant topics, often guest-edited by leading faculty. Recent special issues have covered dynamic capabilities, city innovation, big data, and intellectual property management.