Outsourcing and Free Flow of Information

The free flow of information offers companies unprecedented opportunities to collaborate. Such openness also poses enormous risks to intellectual property-the very source of competitive innovation. Therefore, it is imperative for executives at many levels to grasp the essentials of IP beginning with patents. In the current economic environment, corporate leaders have a particularly heavy burden in balancing ways to build their business while protecting their competitive position. Without a basic understanding of patent law and due diligence they'll find it difficult to forge ahead even though corporate legal experts will lead the way, business executives with an awareness of global IP issues will better understand the competitive landscape and be better equipped to make informed decisions, control the risks, and maximize the benefits of outsourcing and alliances both at home and abroad. This feature focuses on risks posed by outsourcing and the general area of alliances.