Are you getting maximum bang for your IP buck?

Intangible assets – of which intellectual property (IP) is often the most significant – represent more than 50% of the value of most companies. In an economic and political climate that has created mistrust of corporate management, the use, control and value of a company's assets is coming under increased scrutiny. Whether your business value is in your brand or innovation, regulators, shareholders, lenders and the tax authorities are all interested in how well you manage your IP.

IP as a financial asset is rapidly gaining a higher profile in consequence of the new UNCITRAL Guide to Secured Lending, the International Financial Reporting Standards 3 and Sarbanes-Oxley transparency requirements for accounting for and managing intangibles transparently. This is presenting new opportunities to drive more value from your IP and to help your company through the recession and get ahead of the competition as the cycle moves to economic recovery.

This is the first in a series of ten alerts which consider how to use your IP assets to minimise threats to your business and make the most of opportunities out there.