Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/106134 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2014
Series/Report no.: 
ZEW Discussion Papers No. 14-118
Publisher: 
Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung (ZEW), Mannheim
Abstract: 
Trademarking firms are more productive, generate higher profits, and have a better survival rate. Trademarking firms are in one word more successful, which might motivate non-trademarking firms to adopt a trademark strategy. But this seems not to be the case. The proportion of trademarking firms in the German business sector amounts to just 18%. This figure is quite low, given that nearly each firm has reputation to protect. But why has the vast majority of firms no registered trademarks? Using a representative sample of German firms, the present paper links certain firm characteristics to a firms' propensity to register trademarks. The empirical results point to circumstances under which trademarks are significantly more often used: this is the case where a large distance between a firm and its customers exists, a firm's product quality is difficult to assess, a firm's products are characterized by a limited (but not strong) substitutability, and where a firm is engaged in R&D and introduces innovative products. Trademarks are considerably less frequently used if none of this is the case.
Subjects: 
Intellectual Property Rights
Trademarks
Reputation
Innovation
JEL: 
C25
D21
L14
O34
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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