The instruments of the IPR system – e.g., patents, copyrights, trademarks or designs – have become important building blocks for creating business models. The management of IPRs and their integration into a business strategy can make the difference between failure and success stories like Apple or Google. An innovation-friendly IPR environment – in terms of effective IP laws, adequate support services for firms and, ultimately, firms “fit” in IPR – is, hence, a necessity in Europe.
Several changes in the European IPR system are being implemented in this context. In particular, this concerns the path towards a unitary patent, reform in the copyright system, improved IP enforcement and better services for entrepreneurs to manage IP. With presentations of studies executed for the Scientific Technology Option Assessment Board (STOA) of the European Parliament, this workshop presents the path towards the unitary patent, the fight against counterfeiting/piracy orreforms in the European copyright system. Significant advancements in services like automatic machine translation of foreign language patent documents and in educational programmes will be outlined by an EPO speaker. A speaker from IBM will elaborate on IPR challenges from a practitioner´s point of view. An interactive discussion with the audience after the presentations highlights implications for entrepreneurs.