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.

The software industry has emerged as one of the most consistent sources of innovation in the American economy and has been a dynamic landscape for intellectual property management in recent years. Some legal experts have gone so far as to assert that the industry may be outgrowing the patent system as traditional modes of invention disclosure and application filing are becoming impractical.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's recent report on international protection confirmed on several levels that smart intellectual property strategies can help unlock global opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses. But according to IP Watchdog founder Gene Quinn, many smaller firms still view the patent system from the outside looking in.

Agricultural biotechnology giant Monsanto recently marked an important victory in an intellectual property dispute with rival firm and DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International. A court ruling ultimately upheld a Monsanto patent claim even though Pioneer was effectively first to file the original application.

Intellectual property experts have long wondered about the variety of external factors that may cross the minds of patent examiners during deliberation. A recent collaboration between Cornell University professor Michael Frakes and University of Illinois professor Melissa Wasserman may have added new intrigue to the debate, with research suggesting that the structure of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's funding framework may play a significant role in the patent approval process.

A new study from the National Science Foundation has revealed that most businesses are prioritizing intellectual property protection for their trademarks and trade secrets over copyrights and patents.

The threat of bankruptcy is one of the more daunting parts of running a business, but all companies must prepare for such a contingency and determine how intellectual property management strategies could be affected if they or a business partner fall on hard times.

Clean technology has been a buzzword echoing in the minds of political leaders, economists and environmental advocates for several years, but a recent flurry of patenting activity among sustainable energy pioneers suggests that noble concepts are finally turning into material innovations.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has released an initial proposal detailing how it plans to utilize its newly gained authority to set its own fees. While a number of businesses have been distressed by some of the planned fee increases, intellectual property experts insist that the ends may justify the means in the quest to improve patent quality.