The report highlights the complexity of intellectual property (IP) issues in today's rapidly digitizing world. General counsel play a crucial role in avoiding IP pitfalls and ensuring executives make the most of their assets. The report mentions trademark squatting as a common problem in markets like China, where companies battle trademark squatters who have already registered their marks. The report emphasizes the importance of long-term planning in IP protection and suggests two key tasks for general counsel: helping senior executives understand the value of their IP from a legal standpoint and ensuring the board fully understands the commercial potential of their IP portfolio.
