1. Discussion Questions
November 15, 2012
POSTECH Strategic Management of Information and Technology Laboratory
(POSMIT:
Dept. of Industrial & Management Engineering POSTECH

2. Discussion Questions Chapter 9. Collaboration Strategies
Can you identify a situation in which none of the legal protection mechanisms discussed (patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets) will prove useful?
When it is possible to “invent around” a patent
For example, the functions of a technology can be reproduced without having to produce them in the same way as the original product was produced  A patent will be of no use
Commercialization of a product reveals the underlying technology  The value of a trade secret is eliminated (e.g., many electronic products)

3. Discussion Questions Chapter 9. Collaboration Strategies
What factors do you believe influenced the choice of protection strategy used for the innovation of a certain company? Do you think the strategy was a good choice?
Dupont’s Teflon
Dupont patented the chemical discovery, polymerized tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in 1941
Dupont also registered the trademark Teflon
Protecting the product via patent & the name via trademark  Very successful choice for Dupont.
After years of proprietary ownership over the product which gave Dupont an opportunity to firmly establish the name of Teflon with its product, it is now able to earn considerable margins on the product even though it could be produced by any number of other manufacturers