“…However, to interpret the increase in trademark filings and its economic effects, it is crucial to know and understand why firms file trademarks. Previous research identifies various motives for trademarking, including the protection of marketing assets, brand building, and signaling quality (e.g., Ramello and Silva, 2006;Srinivasan et al, 2008;Sandner and Block, 2011). Nevertheless, an empirical investigation of trademarking motives remains lacking.…”