To maximize their effectiveness, shade cases ought to be printed in color. North Sails is the planet’s leading sailmaker. The company commands a global market share of more than 50% and is mainly accountable for the accelerated technological advancement in the sailmaking business within the past 30 years.
CEO Tom Whidden needs to consider just how to best safeguard the company's leading position. Particularly, North presently uses patents nor copyright to guard its technology. The organization even allows its designers when they do independent work to make use of its applications. The case supports a discussion of the function of intellectual property rights in safeguarding technology and knowhow.
By emphasizing the costs and benefits of copyright and patents, the case points to some challenge which is common across many firms: Their most valuable assets are mostly intangible, and these assets cannot easily be pinned down and protected. North's alternative to this challenge is highly unusual and creative.
PUBLICATION DATE: May 08, 2014 PRODUCT #: 714403-PDF-ENG
This is just an excerpt. This case is about STRATEGY & EXECUTION
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