GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT

THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZATION:
The globalization of the technological environment has brought complex changes for firms managing their intellectual property. According to one account, exports of intellectual property assets from the :United States have more than doubled during the past 10 years and now account for more than 25 percent of the total U.S exports.
Deterrence of international pirating activities is usually accomplished through unilateral, bilateral and multilateral means.
UNILATERAL STEPS:
It can be defined as an independent step by a country such as the: United States, to protect its citizens form the following piracy activities.
· the patent, copyright and trademark laws and
· Customs service regulations to block the importation of goods violating U.S. Intellectual property rights.
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS:
These are promises between two nations to conduct their policy affairs in certain ways.
MULTILATERAL METHODS:
This reaches beyond bilateral agreements in that many countries together agree to conform to a policy framework.
PATENT PROTECTION:
The patent policies throughout the world especially among the major developed countries, share a fair amount of commonality. Countries, however different policies regarding subject matter, length of protection, interpretation of claims, requirements for novelty, confidentiality of applications, and priority between different inventors .

COPYRIGHT:
International copyright policy is dominated by two multilateral arrangements. The Universal Copyright Convention and the Berne convention. The principle of both is the same. Foreigners from signatory countries must be granted national treatment under the copyright laws of any other member country.
TRADEMARKS:
This varies considerably among various countries. Unlike in the United States where priority is based on use in most countries trademark rights are granted to the first person to file for registration.
GRAY MARKETS:
The challenges of intellectual property protect, created by the globalization of the technology environment may be illustrated in the case of gray markets. A gray market is developed when a foreign manufactured good bearing a valid U.S. trademark is imported into the United States without the permission of the U.S. trademark code. There are some ways in which a gray market is created.
1. A domestic U.S. trademark holder authorizes an independent foreign manufacturer to use its trademark, and manufacturer agrees not to export to the United States. A gray market is created when the foreign manufactures exports to the United States or when a third party; purchaser exports to the United States
2. The domestic U.S. trademark owner establishes a foreign manufacturing Subsidiary or a division. A gray market is created when a third party Producer exports to the United States.