Asia's Developing Future

Businesses around the world need to pay closer attention to technology, design, branding, and other forms of intangible assets, if they want an edge over their competitors in keeping customers interested. About a third of the value of goods manufactured globally comes from intangible capital, highlighting the need for businesses to protect the intellectual property of these types of assets to stay competitive. This is among the findings of a new study from the World Intellectual Property Organization, titled 2017 World Intellectual Property Report—Intangible Capital in Global Value Chains. The report looks at the role of intangible capital in global value chains, the range of activities needed to manufacture a product and deliver it to consumers. Carsten Fink, chief economist of the World Intellectual Property Organization, says the study shows that the value of intangible capital amounted to $5.9 trillion in 2014, contributing twice as much as tangible capital. Read the transcript https://bit.ly/2tk