DEMPE is not complicated – It is simply IP substance

For those who cared then, there was a lot of panic when the first drafts of the OECD BEPS (base erosion and profit shifting) action items were circulated.

The Action Plan had implications that were not limited to taxation and economic development. In later drafts it became more evident that intellectual property would receive extensive attention. Action Items 8 to 10 address the aspects of intangible assets with respect to preventing base erosion and profit shifting.

Economic policy - IP commercialization as a stand-alone discipline

Below is my opinion piece from Innovation Magazine published by the Irish Times, reproduced with permission:

We need to develop a specialised competency in commercialisation to build this route to the market

HOLLYWOOD has perpetuated the myth that any inventor with a patent is on the road to great riches.

In the UK, James Dyson is a poster-boy for inventors. Many see him as the man who struck it rich with a vacuum cleaner that he started manufacturing in 1993. The romantic image is one of overnight success.

Blinding flash of light - why people don't "get it"

Why have they not “got it”?

In a post at the end of last year, I wondered why I had got it wrong. I searched for reasons for companies not jumping into IP commercialisation.

However, there is another explanation of why governments, policy makers and even sophisticated companies have not “got it”.

First let me set the scene:




Often I have quoted the Ned Davis Research that found that in 1975, 16.8% of the market value of the S&P 500 companies was attributable to intangible assets. By 2005, the ratio had grown to 79.7%. This is an impressive change in economic structure over a relatively short period.

But the story does not stop there.

Curious newspaper article

It was surprising to see myself quoted so extensively in Ireland's Sunday Independent newspaper today.

I was never interviewed for the article, but it was reasonably consistent.

Ah well, it is always good to see IP being promoted in the mainstream press.

Did I get it wrong?

Did I get it wrong?

As the year draws to a close, I look back at my big prediction for the year.

A perfect storm for IP?

I thought this year would be the year for IP to come into its own. It was based on 6 streams of reasoning.

New Intellectual Property Academy in Beijing

Further evidence of increasing IP sophistication in China

According to CRI English, a new intellectual property academy has been established in Beijing.

Already there are 2 post-doctoral and 41 PhD students studying IP law as their minor. The Intellectual Property Academy of Renmin University already includes 5 foreign students.

Managing IP in China

In a previous posting on managing intellectual property in China, I said I would outline some practical steps involved. An integrated approach is required to the multiple elements that make up the "secrets to success".

IP in China

How many times have you heard the following two linked statements?

(1) "We cannot afford to ignore China with its population of 1.3 billion people"
Followed by
(2) ".. but we cannot avoid being ripped off because they have no respect for intellectual property".

Both stereotypes are wrong. They serve as an excuse for bad business and bad management.