Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Cincinnati businesses try to protect intellectual property

Ann Thompson
/
WVXU

A new report released by the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) points to intellectual property theft in Asia as a major problem for U.S. businesses. The report from the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Propertyrecommends strong measures the U.S. can take to thwart the problem.

Protecting Trade Secrets

Roy Kamphausen, one of four NBR experts speaking Tuesday to Greater Cincinnati business leaders, served as deputy director of the commission.  He says, "Companies ought to be able to, without legal jeopardy, have the means to disable the package of information. They ought to have the ability to do that and they ought to be able to know where it is, with beaconing, and meta tagging and other sorts of tools on it." According to Kamphausen, if companies can't disable their intellectual property they should be able to steal back what is theirs with the government backing to do it.

When Cincinnati-based consultant James Bowmanmeets with his clients he tells them theft of intellectual property is a big problem and they should take steps to protect themselves. Bowman says plenty of medium size businesses have a lack of appreciation about what they are risking. "They might want to be a little more circumspect in doing that to make absolutely sure they have a trading partner."

Opportunities to invest for U.S. and Asia companies

Cincinnati-based consultant Robert Leessays, "It's a big beautiful world out there and our companies need to see the opportunities and go for it."

Lee says there are also plenty of opportunities  for the Chinese to invest in Ohio. He sees the investment coming in these areas:

  • automotive
  • chemical
  • transportation
  • shale gas
  • ceramics manufacturing

Ann Thompson has decades of journalism experience in the Greater Cincinnati market and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her reporting.