Presentation of the talk made at the 3th Annual BMDA conference “Regional Innovations for Global Competitiveness”. Focus on the practical issues and human aspects of intellectual property at small companies.

1. How to put intellectual property
to a good use in your business?
Prof. dr. MINDAUGAS KIŠKIS

2. This talk
• The basics of intellectual property
• Perceptions about intellectual property in
business
• Extracting value from intellectual property
• Managing – appreciating and nurturing
intellectual property
• Success and failure in managing intellectual
property
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
reproduced or used in any way without
prior approval of, and reference to the

3. What comes to mind
when you hear about
intellectual property (IP)?
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
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4. Lawyers?
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5. © Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
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6. Definition of IP in business
A broad set of intangibles owned and legally
protected by a business from outside use or
implementation without consent. Intellectual
property can consist of trade secrets, patents,
copyrights and trademarks, or simply
ideas. Under intellectual property laws, owners
of intellectual property are granted certain
exclusive rights.
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
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prior approval of, and reference to the

7. Rather vague legal concept
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8. Perceptions about IP
• A common answer from business
people – we have little IP
• Another common answer – IP is
useless since the protection for it
is so weak
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
reproduced or used in any way without
prior approval of, and reference to the

9. Misunderstanding of IP
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10. IP = creation of the mind = information
Intellectual property is new and
creative ways and objects
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11. Examples of IP
• Most of creative objects are
protected by copyright
• Most of creative ways and technical
objects are patentable
• Most business marks are
trademarks
• Most of business information is a
trade secret
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
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12. At least 90% of all intellectual property
is confidential information
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13. Confidentiality
• Is the best way to protect your
intellectual property
• Is automatic, worldwide and
inexpensive
• But if you loose it, it is gone
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
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14. But ! At least 90% of all information is
useless
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15. Costs of IP
• Costs of IP = obtaining costs +
maintaining costs + enforcement
costs
• At least 50k EUR to obtain a
worldwide patent
• Unlimited EUR to enforce your
intellectual property
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
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16. Enforcement of IP
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17. If you invest in protection of useless
IP you do not deserve to have it
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
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18. Uselessness is sometimes an effective
form of protection
• Who wants to copy something
that is useless?
• Unless of course they do not
know it – then you also gain a
competitive advantage
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
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19. Why care about IP in business then?
IP provides competitive advantage
even if you eventually fail to
protect it
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
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20. Don’t “protect” !
• IP is just a tool, not a goal
• Extract value from IP before it needs
enforcement – use it !
• Instead of thinking about legal
rights, you shall appreciate and
nurture the NEW and CREATIVE
ways and products in your business
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
reproduced or used in any way without
prior approval of, and reference to the

21. © Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
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22. The sources of IP are people
• Sometimes individuals, but more often than
not – teams
• Creative freedom, appreciation of creativity
and teamwork are the precursors to more
intellectual property and more competitive
advantage
• Unless you engage/compensate/share-with
such employees you will loose intellectual
property and competitive advantage
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
reproduced or used in any way without
prior approval of, and reference to the

23. The bad cases of IP management
Universities: In LT universities are the sole
owners of faculty IP, but the results are modest
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24. University IP management paradigm
PhD student working unlimited hours for 350 EUR/ month, but all
IP goes to university and all fame to professors
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
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25. The good cases of IP management
• Most startups
• The core creative team is
primarily motivated by owning of
intellectual property and the
business, as well as bringing it to
life
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
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prior approval of, and reference to the

26. Rovio & Pixelmator
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27. Startup IP management paradigm
„American startups ignore IP and pay
lawyers if they succeed.“
(dr. Ross Anderson, Cambridge University)
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
reproduced or used in any way without
prior approval of, and reference to the

28. Questions?
If you found this presentation
useful – Google me for contacts
and follow-up
© Mindaugas Kiskis, 2015; shall not be
reproduced or used in any way without
prior approval of, and reference to the