William A. Barrett
President, Patent Strategies, PLLVC, Triangle Park, N.C., U.S.A.

Dr. Christopher H. Price
Leader, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology, Liquidia Technologies in Research, Triagnle Park, N.C., U.S.A.

Because technology innovation is becoming more globalized it is now more important than ever to develop a strategic understanding of the intellectual property (IP) protections available for that innovation. For many innovator companies new competitive threats are increasingly likely to be launched from one of the innovation hot spots that are emerging in countries around the globe. Many of these new hot spots are located in regions where IP protection is currently inadequate. Because IP protections in these regions are shifting and uncertain the risks and benefits of IP options are highly ambiguous.