Investing in Intellectual Property: A Real Asset for Institutional Portfolios

Abstract

Over the centuries, the concept of intellectual property (IP) has been praised for protecting the rights of inventors and artists but also criticized for supposedly harming the public interest. Many academics, IP specialists, national and international agencies and financial and legal experts have all weighed in on the topic in one form or another. There is a large body of written work exploring IP from all angles philosophical, legal and financial but somewhat less attention has been given to the subject from an investment perspective. This book attempts to bring existing knowledge together, to separate myth from fact and to contribute to a better understanding of IP while paying specific attention to investment-related topics.

Starting with an overview of the main forms of IP, this book then moves on to discuss the interaction between these “intangibles” and the “real world.” The final part takes a close look at key topics and concepts related to investments in IP.

Keywords: Intellectual Property, Investment, Real Asset

JEL Classification: E22, G23, G24, G32