Managing and Evaluating Intellectual Property Rights
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
Intellectual property rights (IPRs) are a key component of today's economy. At worldwide level, they account for the large majority of large companies' assets. IPRs are a key component also for small and medium enterprises, as well as for start-ups acting in high tech industries.
This course is intended to provide students with theory and practice about how to manage IPRs proactively. To this end, students will first understand IPRs features (what makes IPRs special?), their origin and motivation (how IPRs emerged?) and the main issues scholars and practitioners are still debating (what is the role of intellectual property? are IPRs beneficial for innovation?). The first part of the course is specifically devoted to tackle these issues.
Managing also requires a deep understanding of the ways IPRs can be used to extract value. Companies can rely on IPRs to defend their position in a classic way or to proactively extract additional value through in-bound and out-bound processes. The recently emerging market for IPRs offers companies new, unprecedented options, but also bears possible risks. The second part of the course aims at tackling these topics.
This course is intended to provide students with theory and practice about how to manage IPRs proactively. To this end, students will first understand IPRs features (what makes IPRs special?), their origin and motivation (how IPRs emerged?) and the main issues scholars and practitioners are still debating (what is the role of intellectual property? are IPRs beneficial for innovation?). The first part of the course is specifically devoted to tackle these issues.
Managing also requires a deep understanding of the ways IPRs can be used to extract value. Companies can rely on IPRs to defend their position in a classic way or to proactively extract additional value through in-bound and out-bound processes. The recently emerging market for IPRs offers companies new, unprecedented options, but also bears possible risks. The second part of the course aims at tackling these topics.
Expected learning outcomes
Participants in this course will learn which are the main intellectual property rights, their features, and how to manage and to protect them. In particular, they will understand how to set up an IP protection strategy within a company, how to identify and tackle the main threats in IPRs' protection, and what the practical tools are for ensuring such protection. Additionally, they will learn the main criteria for evaluating IPRs, in order to get a better understanding on how to exploit innovations within companies.
Lesson period: Second trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
Course syllabus
The course in Managing and Evaluating Intellectual Property Rights centers on six main topics:
A) Foundational principles of IPRs
IPRs in a nutshell - Brief history - IPR system - IPR actors - The market for IPRs - IPR overall strategy - IPR in large and small companies - IPR and Artificial Intelligence.
B) Patent business strategies
Prioritizing the inventions - Filing strategy - Patenting process - Patent trolling - Patent thickets - Used, blocking, sleeping patents - Patent pools - Crafting and managing a patent portfolio- Academic patents - Licensing.
C) Patent system
Territorial differences - Patent failures - Cost of disputes - Reforms
D) Non-patent business strategies
Trademarks - Trade secrets - Copyright / Copyleft - Open source - Attribution rights -Norm-based intellectual property
E) Evaluation tools
Evaluation issues - Reasons for evaluating - Patent quality - Patent relatedness - Evaluation methods
F) Sectoral case studies
The course will conclude with student presentations of group project work.
A) Foundational principles of IPRs
IPRs in a nutshell - Brief history - IPR system - IPR actors - The market for IPRs - IPR overall strategy - IPR in large and small companies - IPR and Artificial Intelligence.
B) Patent business strategies
Prioritizing the inventions - Filing strategy - Patenting process - Patent trolling - Patent thickets - Used, blocking, sleeping patents - Patent pools - Crafting and managing a patent portfolio- Academic patents - Licensing.
C) Patent system
Territorial differences - Patent failures - Cost of disputes - Reforms
D) Non-patent business strategies
Trademarks - Trade secrets - Copyright / Copyleft - Open source - Attribution rights -Norm-based intellectual property
E) Evaluation tools
Evaluation issues - Reasons for evaluating - Patent quality - Patent relatedness - Evaluation methods
F) Sectoral case studies
The course will conclude with student presentations of group project work.
Prerequisites for admission
Preliminary knowledge of innovation management.
Teaching methods
The course will combine traditional face-to-face lectures, small group activities and case studies discussions. During lessons, quizzes and other interactive activities will be conducted.
Teaching Resources
Teaching material is based on lecture notes, book chapters and articles. The detailed list of readings will be assigned for pre-class preparation and in-class discussion. Reading list to be announced at the beginning of the course.
Suggested books
Gortych, J. E. (2014) Consider a Spherical Patent: IP and Patenting in Technology Business. CRC Press.
Junghans, C., & Levy, A. (2015). Intellectual property management: A guide for scientists, engineers, financiers, and managers. Wiley-VCH.
Rimai, D. S. (2018). A guide for implementing a patent strategy: How inventors, engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and independent innovators can protect their intellectual property. John Wiley & Sons.
Suggested books
Gortych, J. E. (2014) Consider a Spherical Patent: IP and Patenting in Technology Business. CRC Press.
Junghans, C., & Levy, A. (2015). Intellectual property management: A guide for scientists, engineers, financiers, and managers. Wiley-VCH.
Rimai, D. S. (2018). A guide for implementing a patent strategy: How inventors, engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and independent innovators can protect their intellectual property. John Wiley & Sons.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Attending students:
Written exam based on 10 multiple-choice questions (1 point each) and 3 open-ended questions (7 points each).
- Attending students who contribute to or present the project work are allowed to skip one of the three open-ended questions.
- During lessons, quizzes and other interactive activities will be conducted, offering students the opportunity to earn up to 1 bonus point.
The exam is "closed book" and no support material or devices are allowed. Duration: 60 minutes.
Not-attending students
Written exam based on 10 multiple-choice questions (1 point each) and 3 open-ended questions (7 points each). The exam is "closed book" and no support material or devices are allowed. Duration: 60 minutes.
Written exam based on 10 multiple-choice questions (1 point each) and 3 open-ended questions (7 points each).
- Attending students who contribute to or present the project work are allowed to skip one of the three open-ended questions.
- During lessons, quizzes and other interactive activities will be conducted, offering students the opportunity to earn up to 1 bonus point.
The exam is "closed book" and no support material or devices are allowed. Duration: 60 minutes.
Not-attending students
Written exam based on 10 multiple-choice questions (1 point each) and 3 open-ended questions (7 points each). The exam is "closed book" and no support material or devices are allowed. Duration: 60 minutes.
SECS-P/08 - MANAGEMENT
SECS-P/09 - CORPORATE FINANCE
SECS-P/09 - CORPORATE FINANCE
Lessons: 60 hours
Professors:
Alderighi Marco, Zirulia Lorenzo
Professor(s)
Reception:
Friday 9-12
Room 16, second floor, via Conservatorio 7/MS- TEAMS (please send me an email for booking a slot)