Exploring appropriation strategies: evidence from French high-tech firms. (5th May 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rherrad, Imad; Gallaud, Delphine
• Is Part Of: International journal of technology transfer and commercialisation. Volume 8:Number 4(2009)
• Page Start: 316
• Page End: 339
• Publication Date: 2009-05-05
• Subjects: patents -- strategic methods -- formal methods -- secrecy -- high technology -- hi-tech firms -- knowledge appropriation -- technology transfer -- France -- appropriation strategies -- high-tech firms; Technology transfer -- Periodicals; 338.926
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-6075

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine methods of appropriability in French high-tech firms. Prior studies have found some unbalanced use and adoption of patents across sectors. Following these empirical surveys, our study focuses on the utilisation of comparative approaches to explain differences between French firms in the matter of appropriability. In order to compare these firms, this paper presents a quantitative analysis of all appropriability mechanisms, that is, patents, formal methods and strategic methods of appropriation. The study database contains information on 358 high-tech firms in France for the period 1998?2000. The empirical results show that: 1 sectoral differences exist in the matter of knowledge appropriation; 2 few firms declared using patents as a protection mechanism; 3 lead-time on competitors is the first means of appropriation, followed by secrecy.