The course deals with intellectual property rights as legal techniques as well as peculiar and unique leverages managers have over intangible resources of the firm. How companies are able to gain and retain a competitive advantage through the management of R&D’s results is explained, moving from the basic assumption of economic theories that justify intellectual property protection. Lessons will deal with all main types of intellectual property rights, although preference will be given to the main forms of protection, moving from trade secrecy protection (in light of the international regulations and the current EU directive), patents (both at national and supranational level, including the PCT system), trademarks (both national, Europe and and international), copyrights (particularly as far as digital copyright is concerned in the wake of the digital revolution and the recent developments at European level about online activities). For each form of protection, the course will explore subject-matter, the way rights are generated, international procedures for protection, requirements and enforcement. The course will also discuss recent challenges to the intellectual property system, including open source movements (for software and content protection, and beyond), the interaction within intellectual property and additive manufacturing (3D printing) and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) on creative and inventive activities.