Time, money and brand equity are just a few of the important resources that companies dedicate to the domain of trademark management. But while the natural inclination is to defend these hard-earned intellectual property rights at all costs, overzealous enforcement could do more harm than good.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's promotion of progress and innovation may soon serve it well in an unexpected manner, as a new competition encourages participants to develop new software that will make patent searches more efficient.

The latest analysis of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office filings has revealed a significant uptick in the issuance of utility patents in recent months, with administrators setting an all-time single-week high, according to PatentlyO.

The Track One Prioritized Patent Examination Program represents one of the clearest signs of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's renewed commitment to efficiency. Approximately six months after the program's enactment, intellectual property experts are beginning to develop a more complete perspective on how this innovative approach is being applied in the field.

The implications of intellectual property management decisions are looming large in the pharmaceutical industry as a number of major manufacturers approach patent expiration dates on some of their most widely-distributed medications. According to analysts from Frost & Sullivan, the next several months will represent a critical period for smaller competitors as a rare market opportunity arises for producers of biosimilar drugs.

It would be hard to understate the importance of the America Invents Act, as it represents the first major overhaul of the U.S. patent system in several decades. Before the majority of the proposed changes go into effect next year, companies should be weighing several important considerations in the interim.

While some firms may be determined to secure intellectual property protections to gain the upper hand on their competitors, new findings from researchers at the University of Buffalo suggest that patent sharing may actually increase the odds of market success while spurring overall innovation.

British Intellectual Property Minister Baroness Wilcox has been touring the facilities of several leading environmental innovators this week and encouraging members of the business community to take advantage of the so-called "green channel," a set of provisions that speed the patent application and review process for firms with eco-friendly new ideas.

Much like a logo applied to physical products, a company's website domain name contains a great deal of brand equity and needs to be protected appropriately. The intellectual property community has come to understand the importance of these issues in recent months as cases of so-called cybersquatting abound and organizations prepare their applications for a new website registration option.

Technology manufacturers who have been following industry headlines in recent months may be getting the impression that it's only a matter of time before one of their old patents or newest inventions becomes the target of an intellectual property dispute. Although infringement filings are on the rise, there are a number of preventative steps companies can take to reduce the odds of receiving an unwelcome subpoena.