Culture matters to multinationals' intellectual property businesses

Abstract

This paper will examine how intellectual property issues arise due to the influence of cultural origins and background in cross-border businesses. With this aim in mind, this study is contextualised within three inter-related research questions applying a case study strategy with 13 Chinese and US managers. First, the paper discusses what IP problems managers have encountered. Second, it focuses on why such problems have arisen, i.e. why these problems are related to culture. Finally, the paper synthesises how the interviewed managers endeavour to solve the identified problems. To conclude, the paper draws to the attention of international business managers and researchers the fact that culture should be taken into account when dealing with IP-related cross-border businesses.