Visualization of IPRs in the Creative Industry - a model based on two case studies

Abstract

The creative industry is an important part of the growing knowledge based economy seen today. In the past ten years this industry has become more and more acknowledged and the major role it is playing in this new context is becoming increasingly recognised. There is within this industry a need for a better understanding of which intellectual assets and properties are most commonly encountered as well as the legal structure behind them. The most urgent problem is that actors within the industry do not have knowledge or tools relating to how to package and commercialize assets and ideas. This thesis is focused on how to visualise the IPRs relating to the creative industry and the purpose is to develop of a tool for this. With a better understanding of how intellectual phenomena can be used to extract value through an easily grasped functioning tool, it will contribute to a more active value creation in the creative industry and it will help the companies to see the potential of their assets, how they can protect them and turn them into property, and thereby help them to attract capital to the industry. Using theory on intellectual property management combined with case studies, a foundation has been built for the development of the tool. The case studies have been focused on identifying intellectual assets within mainly two companies within the creative industry creating an understanding and ability to identify the specific problems for this industry. The tool will facilitate the process of understanding IP and the importance of turning assets into property. The tool will evolve better capabilities to manage intellectual assets within the firms and ensure that the assets are used at the maximum of their potential. The thesis consists of three major elements, which are all originating from the thesis’ title: Visualization of the IPRs in the creative industry. The core of the thesis is to give an understanding of how all three parts interrelate. Firstly, the background and problems creating the foundation for the thesis is presented followed by an introduction section about the creative industry presenting definitions and importance in the future. The second section introduces some of the basic complexity when it comes to assets and properties, followed by a description of the three arenas where the asset management will be conducted. The next part of the report explains the legal constructions behind the most important intellectual property rights in the creative industry and presents brief conclusions to the function the protection has. Understanding of the legal background for intellectual assets and properties will simplify the understanding process of the main visualization model. The two last parts of the thesis consist of an analytical character, dealing with conclusion about industry specific challenges followed by an explanation of the Control-Significance model developed to aid the industry in visualizing their assets.