Incidental or willful infringement of intellectual property can be a costly offense, and in an increasingly litigious business environment, companies must take action to limit the associated risks.

As Barnes & Noble prepares to build upon the success of its Nook ereader line with a holiday season debut of the Nook Tablet, the company is gearing up to defend its patents against competing manufacturer Microsoft.

A recent investigation conducted by the office of the California State Auditor has revealed that very few organizations have implemented prior recommendations and effectively protected their patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.

In some cases, defending intellectual property rights can present a significant administrative and financial burden. However, with a clear understanding of regulatory frameworks and market conditions, companies may be able to protect their intellectual assets more affordably.

In a recent speech, European Commission vice president Neelie Kroes offered a strong rebuke of current European Union copyright laws, calling for the development of a more relevant framework to align with recent technological innovations.

As Google prepares to finalize its acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a small U.S. cellular solutions provider has come forward and accused Motorola of intellectual property theft.

In yet another display of shrewd intellectual property strategy, Apple may soon leverage a patent acquired from Xerox to effectively take control of the location-based services market.

Congressional advocates of the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act, as well as the recently passed PROTECT IP Act, contend that each will provide essential intellectual property protection to American businesses. However, several big names in the technology community have recently come forward to suggest legislators may not fully understand the digital implications of these bills.

The so-called 'super committee' of senators tasked with uncovering potential sources of government budget savings has shifted its focus toward the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, according to IP Watchdog, calling into question the agency's funding levels.

The Library Copyright Alliance, an industry group representing more than 139,000 American libraries employing approximately 350,000 workers, recently wrote Congressional officials to express concerns over proposed copyright legislation.