Microsoft has filed suit against Comet - a leading British electronics distributor - for allegedly creating and selling nearly 100,000 counterfeit copies of Windows XP and Vista proprietary CDs.

Each new year brings the opportunity for a business to reassess its priorities and revitalize its operations. For a number of organizations, 2012 could be the time to take stock of their intellectual assets and devise new strategies to leverage their worth.

In accordance with the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, the U.S. Copyright Office has issued a report suggesting that sound recordings made prior to February 1972 be brought under its jurisdiction to protect the interests of associated stakeholders.

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.