Module 2: Knowledge
Learning Goals
Knowledge is important in creating value as an entrepreneurial venture. We will cover what types of knowledge are important in determining if you will become an entrepreneur. We will also discuss how valuable knowledge is protected. This will include intellectual property protection under current U.S. law. In the later part of the class, we will look at how ideas can be protected by choosing the correct governance form.
Key Takeaways: Certain people are more likely to exploit certain opportunities. Can you explain why? There are several strategies for protecting the knowledge that you have that gives competitive advantage. Which one that a firm uses depends on the nature of the knowledge and the opportunity. Intellectual property can build a platform for competitive advantage, but does not guarantee it.
1/26: Prior Knowledge
We will define opportunities and discuss how prior knowledge of entrepreneurs explains opportunity recognition. We will ask, “Do you (or your team) have the right knowledge to make your venture a success?” What shifts create opportunities and can you see such shifts today?
Required materials: H: Education of Tech Entrepreneurs in US
Additional Readings:
1. Eckhardt & Shane (2003) Opportunities and Entrepreneurship
2. Shane (2000) Prior Knowledge and Entrepreneurship
Class Slides: Module 2 Knowledge
Much of the entrepreneurship literature is summarized in the two views of entrepreneurship that we will review in class. Here are additional references.
References
CM Van Praag, JS Cramer. The roots of entrepreneurship and labour demand: Individual ability and low-risk aversion. Economica, 2001 (link to it here: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3548880 )
This was an interesting study following Dutch school children for 40 years (that’s pretty hard to do).
Glenn R. Carroll and Elaine Mosakowski. The Career Dynamics of Self-Employment. Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 32, No. 4 (Dec., 1987), pp. 570-589 (link to it here: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2392884 )
1/31 and 2/2: Intellectual Property
These classes will deal with intellectual property, which is an important determinant of the success of many start-ups. We will discuss several ways of protecting intellectual property, and why each is used. We will also discuss the Bayh-Dole Act and get some fun practice on patent searching. We will look at IP strategy. How to protect your idea when your patents cannot be safeguarded or you cannot patent? How can firms manage to protect their ideas from being imitated?
Required materials: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/engin/patent-tutorial/index.htm
Please complete the this tutorial created by the University of Texas’ McKinney Engineering Library before Tuesday’s class so that if you have any questions we can discuss them. The McKinney Engineering Library has also assembled a great list of resources at the following website. See this website for more detail on patents. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/engin/patent/index.htm
(You may have to copy and paste the link)
Class Slides: Module 2 Opp Module 2 IP
Additional References:
Patents:Here are a few patents that might interest you. The first is Google’s accelerometer technology patent, which makes the smart phone much smarter by understanding what you are currently doing. The second is the patent for Clocky, the mobile alarm clock that we saw in an in-class video.
http://toostep.com/insight/google-s-accelerometer-patent-and-revolutionary-computing-ch
http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=akGoAAAAEBAJ&dq=gauri+nanda
Here is some information that should be helpful in patent searching that shows US Technology Classes: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/opc/documents/classescombined.pdf
Here is an article showing statistics on patents and patent litigation
http://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/lewclr9&div=8&g_sent=1&collection=journals
Trademarks and logos: This website has an archive of trademarks and logos organized by industries and alphabetically. http://www.trademarks-logos.com/industry.htm
Trade Secrets: An article about trade secret enforcement. http://www.tagonline.org/articles.php?id=65
Copyrights: Specific information for those interested in copyrighting software