The definition of Intellectual Property Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

The definition of Intellectual Property - Essay Example Examples include licensing arrangements under which the licensee pays the licensor to exploit the right; the imposition of contractual obligations not to use or disclose information; or restrictive covenants which prohibit employees from establishing rival businesses within a specified period or geographical area. A more laconic definition of intellectual property suggests that 'it comprises all those things which emanate from the exercise of the human brain, such as ideas, inventions, poems, designs, micro computers and Mickey Mouse' (Phillips 2001, p.3). Intellectual property rights refer to the ability to own and protect the products of human intellect. These rights may have to be applied for and granted, or in some cases, such as with copyright, this arises automatically. Formally, there are four main types of intellectual property protection and these will be explained briefly below. Patents cover inventions of both new and improved products and processes. They are probably the most publicised and conventional form of protection. Patents are granted to cover new products and processes and in the United Kingdom last for up to 20 years. ... Patenting systems vary throughout the world and their jurisdiction is territorial. In the United Kingdom the patent is granted to the first applicant to file rather than to invent. The Intellectual Property Scenario in Europe The European Patent Organisation and the European Commission have been concerned that the above statistics imply that the innovative potential within Europe is not being adequately tapped. Patent offices across Europe frequently argue that the patent system is not being adequately used, leaving considerable numbers of potential innovations unprotected (Hofinger 1996, p.91-98). There is a different culture concerning patenting in Japan, where it is common to file a number of applications for a single invention. It may be argued that the difference in approaches to the use of the formal intellectual property systems, identified between nation states, is also one of the distinguishing features between small and large firms. Similarly, the relatively low use of the formal systems by small firms may also mean that a reliance on patent counts, etc. is an inaccurate measurement of innovation or research activity. Hence, there is a need to 'unpack' the approaches to innovation and intellectual property management by owner-managers. However, the perceived positive link between formal intellectual property protection and innovation is not without controversy. (Granstrand 1999, p. 13-16) Empirical and theoretical research has offered several arguments in favour of weaker intellectual property protection. One argument hinges on the negative effects of monopolistic behaviour that strong protection permits. Gilbert and Newbery (1982,

Personal finance project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Personal finance project - Essay Example All these make it extremely confusing for a layman to choose the best options for management of his money. The aim of business portfolio management course was to make one understand different financial products that are available to an individual and the desired mix of assets that shall assure certain amount of returns and ways of conducting a better financial management of one’s portfolio. The paper is a study of management of personal finance under a mock scenario, where the student has to manage a portfolio of stock market, metals in the international market as well as bank deposits in banks that belong to Non Islamic category in Qatar. The case provides the student with a startup capital of QR 1,000,000 million along with the freedom to make investments in various investment options available. The investments are made as per discretion of the investor, inclusive of his personal investment strategy and rationale. The paper also highlights objective of the investment scenario, along with a clear presentation of the strategic investment portfolio. The risk return trade off considered by the investor is emphasized and the paper concludes with an estimation of return of the individual at end of the investment period. The rationale of this project is to determine the level of investment understanding of students, after the course of finance. The project is an assessment and a practical understanding of the investment management course undertaken as a part of this course. The project is also a presentation of a mock investment portfolio based on past data of the markets, which portrays a practical view of the real investment scenario and portfolio management case for a finance manager. The project provides insights into the broader real case scenario with help of a hypothetical situation that is presented to the investor. The investor shall invest in a minimum of 3 stocks at a time and maintain portfolios in