Three views from in-house counsel on managing innovation

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Three views from in-house counsel on managing innovation

AIPPP_lunch_Embraer

Diverse perspectives on the challenges of managing innovation in an increasingly politicised climate were provided by in-house counsel from 3M, Canon and Embraer at a lunchtime discussion at the AIPPI Congress



AIPPI lunch panel

Dean Harts of 3M said that his company recently received its 100,000th patent, while Kenichi Nagasawa said Canon had some 860 people working in IP worldwide. By contrast, said Wander Stange Menchik, Embraer has only been dealing with IP since 2006 and has an in-house team of just four people.

“Our competitors are much larger and have a stronger IP tradition. We’re still learning,” he said, speaking in Portuguese. He said his priorities are to ensure that IP assets are protected appropriately, to get the highest value out of the assets while also checking the company is not infringing others’ rights, and to structure the assets in the best possible way – something that is becoming more of a challenge: “The fiscal incentive law in Brazil is being reviewed and that could be a major obstacle if you invest in Brazil.”

AIPPI Embraer

On the positive side, there are few competitors and not much litigation in the aviation industry. But Embraer faces challenges arising from open innovation and cooperation: the company has more than 200 contracts with partners all over the world, including with universities and research institutes. Managing the IP rights and open innovation in that context can present difficulties.

Nagasawa faces somewhat different problems, which include the exponential growth in patents; the threat from patent assertion entities; 3D printing enabling manufacture at home; and what he called the “IP crossover” of different rights. He traced the evolution of an industry such as cameras from mechanical to electronic to IT-based technology, with the latter bringing additional features such as WiFi and GPS. Progression to each stage is accompanied by “a great increase in the number of patents embedded in a single product,” said Nagasawa.

Harts said that 3M is active in 200 countries, and two-thirds of its sales are outside the US; he compared his experience of patent and trade secrets disputes in Germany, Japan, the US and Korea. “The US is the most expensive jurisdiction for patent enforcement – but also the most expensive for defendants,” he commented.



more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

A settlement between Philips and Transsion and a loss for AstraZeneca in the UK were also among the top talking points
Working with Harvey and Microsoft, the firm has been at the forefront of developing AI tools for its lawyers, and is now exploring new projects and business models
The Emotional Perception AI case, which centres on the patentability of an artificial neural network, will be heard next week
Developments included a court order related to InterDigital’s anti-anti-suit injunction against Disney, and clarification on recoverable costs
Partners at Foley Hoag examine how recent CJEU jurisprudence may serve as a catalyst for recalibrating US judicial reluctance to entertain foreign patent claims
International law firms have high hopes for their IP practices in Saudi Arabia, with many opening offices, but recruiting and retaining talent in the Kingdom presents unique challenges
Patrick Ogola joins us for our ‘Five minutes with’ series to discuss helping African entrepreneurs on the global stage, and explains why young lawyers should speak up
Heli Pihlajamaa, the EPO’s principal director for patent law and procedures, joins us to take stock of the unitary patent following its second anniversary
Kelly Thompson, chair of South African firm Adams & Adams, discusses self-belief, self-doubt, and the importance of saying yes
The renowned food brands were represented by a host of lawyers, including members of the firms’ IP teams
Gift this article