Overlap in external technology search locations and the breadth of IPR assets: lessons from the Security Software Industry

This study examines the effect of intellectual property rights (IPR) on firms’ geographic overlap strategy of external technology search (ETS) compared to rivals. I reveal that firms are able to realise less intensity of geographic overlap in ETS locations compared to competitors and that this outcome is a function of the breadth of their upstream (generality of patents) and downstream (diversification of trademarks) IPR tools. Accordingly, I...