The firm launched its second Global IP Index (GIPI 2) to assess how jurisdictions are viewed in terms of IP competitiveness, and concluded that the UK, Germany, the US, Australia and the Netherlands formed a tier-one group.

Unlike GIPI 1, which considered only trademarks, patent and copyright, the second index factored in IP types such as domain names and design rights.

The research suggests that businesses are beginning to appreciate the significant value of their IP assets at the same time as the value of many tangible assets is falling. It also shows that businesses are valuing creative output such as inventions, know-how, information, copyright, brand names and designs.

As financial conditions have deteriorated over the last 18 months, so organisations have worked harder to protect, defend and exploit their IP to establish and secure their competitive edge, according to the research.

About 60% of the survey’s respondents said their organisation spent more time dealing with IP than ever. It also revealed that the opportunities and risks presented by the internet had sharpened the focus on IP. The UK and Germany were the only two countries to rank in the top tier for every area of IP assessed. Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, France and Singapore qualified as tier two; Japan Israel, Spain, South Africa and South Korea as tier three; Mexico, UAE and Italy as tier four; and Turkey, Poland, Russia, Brazil, India and China as tier five.

Roland Mallinson, IP partner at Taylor Wessing, said: “As businesses see real value in their IP and that of competitors, they are prepared to spend the time and money to protect their own IP and manage the risk of infringing others’.

“The divergence within the EU is disappointing, given the years of harmonising legislation for some IP rights (with the stark exception of patents). This is not just an issue of legislation but operation of the laws in

practice, including some sort of centralised court system. Technology-led small and medium enterprises need this in particular. The next GIPI will see greater consistency across the EU but I doubt that is imminent.”