Market coverage
Intellectual property rights are mostly national, and at best regional instruments. Thus, covering a large number of countries increases costs considerably.
In how many countries do you actually need protection? And, most importantly, in which ones? The relevant countries can be selected on the basis of the following criteria:
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Where are the production sites / company headquarters of the competitors?
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What changes can be foreseen?
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Where are the sales markets?
- And how will they develop?
On the basis of a cost-benefit analysis, the sales markets that are of interest should often only be covered where it no longer seems worthwhile to a competitor to be able to use the relevant technology only in the area that has remained free. However, in this context it should always be taken into consideration that this assessment should be made not only on the basis of the status quo but also, even at this stage, for the entire term of the relevant property right.
Control of costs by way of a skilfully selected application strategy – that too is: