Although intellectual property trends in several major American industries seem to suggest an increased focus on the acquisition and defense of patents, a more open and collaborative attitude toward IP management may be needed to drive the economy back from recession.

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs once famously told a biographer that he was willing to go to "thermonuclear war" with Google before he ever granted the Android manufacturer deals on his mobile technology patents. However, at least one analyst believes it might be time for Apple to move beyond the late executive's hard-line approach to intellectual property management.

Intellectual property management has traditionally been a large component of business strategy for pharmaceutical companies. However, the nature of the industry often introduces unique issues regarding the complicated relationship between business interests and the ethics of providing quality healthcare.

Market-leading semiconductor innovator Cree recently announced plans to grant licenses to several of its fundamental technology patents in an effort to spur LED lighting adoption and shift focus to the development of new LED solutions.

A report released this week by the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization revealed a strong rebound in global IP filings in the wake of recession.

Imation Corporation has established itself as a leading brand in the technology community on the strength of its portfolio of secure data storage solutions. But to ensure its products remain relevant in a rapidly evolving industry, company officials have announced the acquisition of intellectual assets from data deduplication specialist Nine Technology.

Late last week, Penn State University enacted several crucial changes to its intellectual property policies governing industry-sponsored research. As a result, officials now believe that barriers to innovation have been meaningfully lowered, placing the university in prime position to advance the nation's economic recovery.

BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion has encountered numerous setbacks in recent months as public relations nightmares and a continued decline of demand have allowed competitors to surge past it in the mobile device market. To halt this trend, at least one investor is suggesting that it may be time for the company to consider abandoning its current business model and leveraging its vast patent portfolio instead.

The Intellectual Property Exchange International (IXPI) - touted as the world's first centralized marketplace for intellectual assets - has revealed the funding commitments of its founding members ahead of the trading infrastructure's 2012 debut.

Tom Duke has been appointed as the U.K.'s first Intellectual Property Attache and will begin his tenure by focusing on fostering a mutually beneficial relationship with China that allows both sides to defend and leverage their intellectual assets.