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.

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.

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.

The European Court of Justice recently ruled that a Belgian internet service provider could not be held responsible for filtering out peer-to-peer file sharing networks - a crucial platform favored by digital media pirates.

Two of New York City's most beloved cultural publications - the Village Voice and Time Out New York - are now engaged in a controversial intellectual property battle centered on the use of the phrase "Best of NYC."

Recording Industry Association of America lead attorney Jennifer Pariser recently expressed frustration with the manner in which courts have interpreted portions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and suggested current legislation may need to be amended in the future.

Earlier in the week, U.S. Copyright Office head Maria Pallante announced a list of 17 priorities and 10 special projects the agency will address in the next two years to keep pace with evolving copyright policy and administration.

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are currently discussing a bill that could give law enforcement agencies jurisdiction to shut down websites containing material which violates copyright protections.

By securing its latest patent licensing deal with a Taiwanese smartphone and tablet manufacturer, Microsoft has found a creative way of profiting from its competitor and generating revenues from the sale of Android devices.