Normes juridiques et sociales dans la reconnaissance de la propriété intellectuelle des PME et des salariés dans les liens de quasi-subordination : des tensions émergentes ?

Abstract

Cet article traite des tensions autour de la propriété intellectuelle (PI) des « knowledge workers » et des PME dans la relation à des entreprises plus bureaucratiques. Une conception performative de la PI selon une approche juridique, sociale et en gestion, permet d’identifier les conditions d’émergence de ces tensions dans la reconnaissance de cette PI. Les cas étudiés d’inventions mais aussi de créations d’oeuvres originales, suggèrent que la non-reconnaissance de la PI dans les relations de (quasi)-subordination reflète un cadre normatif inapproprié vis à vis des travailleurs créatifs.

Rebuilding a Cluster While Protecting Knowledge within Low-Medium-Tech Supplier SMEs: A Spanish and French Comparison

“…However, starting the late 2000s, with the changes in training programs and the new legitimacy of entrepreneurship, low-and mediumtechnology subcontracting SMEs began to grow increasingly independent vis-à-vis the major principals (aeronautics, as well as naval and nuclear). They used geographical proximity to progress in design activities and aimed at a better valorization of their intellectual assets, whether in different sectors or internationally [81]. Their insertion in the wider regional network of institutionalized clusters led them to new cognitive exchanges with other industries, potentially influencing their choices both in terms of the design and logistics of modular units and of external organization, which ties in with our third proposition.…”

“…However, the open innovation model does not benefit large firms and SMEs in the same way. When they collaborate with large firms, SMEs can be confronted with appropriation concerns [50,80,81]. Thus, the external sourcing of ideas or knowledge assets does not necessarily improve an SME's performance relative to larger firms [82].…”

“…However, at the same time, the main client focusing on the sale of complete fleets in the area has implemented a low-cost international subcontracting policy, along with the rationalization of their purchasing policy. Given this context, SMEs have experienced recurring challenges negotiating their intellectual property with large companies regarding collaborative research projects [81]. Clustered SMEs have even shown a tendency to collaborate more with public research than with their clients within the clusters as regards innovation [181].…”

How Can the Governance of the French Clusters (Pôles de Compétitivité) Improve SME’s Competitiveness?

“…SMEs have recurrent difficulties in negotiating their intellectual property with large companies in collaborative research projects (INPI & DGCIS, 2008). In this context, IPR management is paramount to emancipation and internationalization strategy of SMEs (Gadille & Schockaert, 2015). The structural relations and social norms between firms in vertical networks may explain the tendency of SMEs to collaborate with public research within the clusters (Arrighi, 2014).…”

“…Learning in the clusters about enhancement of intellectual property in asymmetric power relations is a key asset to create new place dependencies. Some French clusters already have activities of intermediation reducing information and transaction cost of IPR negotiation in public-private R&D relations (Gadille & Schockaert, 2015). Transformation of structural relations between firms through collaboration is a lengthy process, also relying on transformation of professional and organisational norms (Gadille & Valette, 2012).…”