Intellectual property issues transcend business size and sector and have become increasingly important as the shift toward knowledge-based economies continues. But before companies can effectively protect their intellectual capital, a number of prevailing misconceptions should be clarified.

The latest report from Boston University researchers highlighted the gravity of patent lawsuits, suggesting that inventors may have lost as much as $500 billion in legal battles over the past two decades.

The World Intellectual Property Organization recently released its latest summary of facts and figures synthesized from 90 IP offices around the world. The comprehensive report contains several significant revelations concerning patents, utility models and industrial designs. But the findings that have attracted the most attention relate to the growing importance of trademarking.

Intellectual property discussions take high priority in the pharmaceutical industry as decisions affect not only business interests, but the health and safety of consumers. In an effort to address these concerns, the Pharmaceutical Industry Labor Management Association recently vowed to redouble its efforts for fraud prevention and intellectual property protection.

An ongoing book digitization project between Google and dozens of American universities has hit a roadblock as copyright infringement concerns have come to light.

As Borders Books continues its slow but inevitable exit from the marketplace, company executives have decided to make one last shrewd move and put the group's intellectual property rights up for auction.

In a move reflective of the technology giant's recent efforts to incorporate intellectual property into its competitive strategy, Google has purchased more than 1,000 additional patents from IBM.

The University of Nevada at Las Vegas will partner with International Game Technology to host a day-long seminar later this month discussing intellectual property trends in the video game industry in front of an audience of law students and legal professionals.

The Obama administration is disputing speculation that the drug patent protections being called for in a Transpacific trade deal would drive up medicine costs and effectively reduce the quality of healthcare in underprivileged populations across the globe.

James Pooley, deputy director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization, was selected to deliver a keynote address at the recent Growth, Innovation and Leadership Conference in Silicon Valley.