The strategic value of Intellectual Property in the automotive industry during the digital transformation: a patent-based analysis

In the digital switchover era, this paper aims at deeper analyse the drivers of innovation and how they interact with Intellectual Property Rights management. The capability to foresee market changes affects how companies manage their patent portfolios, implement their strategies and, consequently, succeed in the market. In the present context, emerging technologies, secondary patent markets, and Intellectual Property intermediaries are threatening incumbents' status-quo in the automotive industry. The need for stability is undeniable; new technology standards and policy adjustments are the keys for future improvements and shared social benefits. The theoretical background finds fertile ground around the analysis of quantitative data provided by private patent litigation databases proving emerging industry trends.