The escalating power of today's analytical technologies and the endless creativity of their users have combined to answer vast social, political and commercial questions in recent years. This month, two inquiries into the geographical context of intellectual assets have revealed intriguing conclusions.

As digital piracy poses problems for a widening array of industries, authorities have shown interest in employing graduated response systems to counteract illicit online activity. However, emerging research suggests that this measured approach is currently an insufficient solution to the challenges presented.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has become an increasingly popular natural gas extraction method in recent years. However, emerging research suggests that patents surrounding the proprietary materials and processes employed by energy corporations may be inadvertently inhibiting industry-wide progress.

Motorola's management of patents deemed essential to the mobile device industry has invited investigation from authorities in the U.S. and abroad in recent years. This week, a district court ruling officially attached a monetary value to the company's patent licensing improprieties.

The technology transfer programs run by universities and research institutions around the country have been a consistent source of scientific progress and commercial prosperity over the past few decades. Now a new initiative in Northeast Ohio is looking to replicate similar successes for creative minds outside of academia.

Microsoft made a major play for its mobile future this week, announcing the wholesale purchase of Finnish hardware partner Nokia's devices and services business unit for nearly $5 billion. The American firm will also pay $2.2 billion to license Nokia's patents and mapping services.

The Bayh-Dole Act passed in 1980 has been cited in many of the academic technology transfer success stories which emerged over the three decades that followed. University of Michigan professor and medical historian Howard Markel believes it is time for a change, however, suggesting that the legislation is poorly prepared to align with the realities of today's fast-moving biotechnology sector.

After five years of Parliamentary debate, and careful analysis of the international treaties it was beholden to, New Zealand has formally enacted legislation banning software patents.

The so-called smartphone wars waged over the last three years have been viewed as everything from the bane of the U.S. patent system to perhaps the best evidence of its value. One indisputable result of these highly-publicized legal battles, however, is the impact they are currently having on IP management strategies employed by firms in every corner of the market.

Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig is one of today's preeminent thinkers in the field of digital copyright enforcement. Now his academic and legal knowledge will be put to practical use as Lessig goes on the offensive against an Australian music publisher which previously issued a takedown request regarding one of the professor's lectures posted on YouTube.