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Intellectual Property Management Systems

In my work at BHS Corrugated, it was – and still is – important to me not only to have found a methodology in the 360° IP approach that will ensure the long-term success of the company. I thought long and hard about how we could embed this methodology in the company in such a way that it would not just be ‘another fad’. I was looking for a way to embed this approach so firmly and holistically in the company that it would become indispensable – because it is so important.

After some time, I came across DIN 77006 ‘Intellectual Property Management Systems’, a catalogue of measures that fulfilled exactly that requirement (it can be obtained directly from the publisher here).

General introduction

Interlocking gears as a symbol of the interaction of individual elements of the IP strategy

Standards often have a reputation for being rigid and inflexible, hindering rather than helping a company's operations. In many cases, ‘you just have to do it’, as with DIN EN ISO 9001 (quality management) or DIN EN ISO/IEC 27001 (information security). This is often because certification requires you to address and meet all the requirements.

The present case is somewhat different: as justified and sensible as the DIN 77006 requirements catalogue is, it does not necessarily have to be implemented in its entirety in order to achieve the set goal, depending on the task at hand.

Of course, the standard can be implemented in its entirety, thereby making a valuable contribution to business protection. However, a selection of the elements described can also be used as an excellent vehicle for firmly anchoring the 360° IP approach (or another IP strategy) in the company. In this case, the implementation of the standard serves a higher purpose and is not merely an (often assumed) end in itself.

I have no personal preference here, because the scope of meaningful orientation – like everything else – is based on the business case, your business case. From individual measures to the complete package, I can support you in the development, introduction and implementation, right through to the standard compliance audit if you like.

Don't be afraid of the standard

Support from DIN 77006 in strategy implementation with a top-down approach

Of course, there are many ways to successfully implement such a system in a company. The following is the concept we used to successfully introduce the standard at my employer, BHS Corrugated Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH.

We took a top-down approach to embed the new mindset in the company. I began by adopting an addendum to the corporate vision and a globally applicable IP policy. This, in turn, formed the guidelines for the development of a tailor-made IP strategy, which was then brought to life in appropriately adapted processes with audit-proof documentation. The whole process was accompanied by a comprehensive communication and training concept.

My work at BHS Corrugated Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH received a lot of positive international attention. The concept I implemented was selected as a case study, which is now used as a teaching example of efficient and effective IP management for students in the Master's programme in Intellectual Property Management (MIPLM) at the Center for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI) at the University of Strasbourg. You can find the case study here.

Whether this approach is right for you or whether a different approach makes more sense would need to be clarified in a personal discussion. All I can say is that this approach has already proven itself. But here, too, the system must adapt to you and not you to the system!

A successful way of implementation

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