Intellectual property rights (IPRs) provide a basis for businesses to:

• prevent others from copying their products or using their innovations – this is particularly relevant in today's competitive markets;
• create a strong brand identity through product differentiation drawing on the strategic use of one or more types of IPRs;
• obtain valuable competitive intelligence (analyzing commercial and technological information from patent, trademark and design databases can increase a company's understanding of technological fields and trends, identify future research and growth areas, and analyze competitors, thereby saving research/development/marketing time and resources);
• gain revenues through licensing, franchising or other IP transactions;
• obtain financing or venture capital – IP assets that have legal protection and can be valued and leveraged to obtain capital;
• increase their commercial value;
• access new markets;
• engage in different types of business partnerships – IP rights provide a basis for collaborative partnerships, e.g. in research, marketing, open innovation, outsourcing etc.;
• ensure freedom to operate (owning or licensing in key IPR can reduce the risk of businesses infringing IPRs of others when using technologies, trademarks, designs, and copyright work);
• segment geographical markets (in some countries, IP owners can prevent goods from being imported into another country in which they also have IPR protection).

Business membership organizations and chambers of commerce can play an important role in helping companies use IP to increase their competitiveness. By engaging in the IP field, business membership organizations can:

• help their members and local economies increase their competitiveness
• demonstrate leadership within a cutting-edge issue in the modern economy
• attract new members, especially in highly innovative sectors
• generate new sources of income through new services.

ICC Tools

Making intellectual property work for business

Making intellectual property work for business gives practical guidance to chambers of commerce and business associations looking to offer intellectual property (IP) services for businesses. Jointly published by ICC and the World Intellectual Property Organization, this handbook gives helpful advice on how to set up different types of IP services such as:

• training,
• awareness-raising, consultancy,
• policy advocacy and
• stimulating innovation.

Thirty case studies provide hands-on insight into this issue and illustrate best practices from around the world.

• Hard copies are available from the ICC Business Bookstore
• Download the handbook in English.
• Download the handbook in Spanish.

Survey of existing IP programmes in chambers of commerce and business membership organizations

Many chambers of commerce in different parts of the world are active in the area of intellectual property. To help chambers share and learn from each others' experiences in this increasingly important area, ICC has brought together information on IP-related activities carried out by chambers and ICC national committees through a worldwide survey. The results of this survey are summarized in the table below. ICC thanks all chambers and national committees who contributed information to this project and made it possible.

Download the survey

To update your information or contribute to this project contact Daphne Yong-d'Herve: dye@iccwbo.org