The Role of Intellectual Property Rights in High-Tech Mergers and Acquisitions

A trend has emerged in recent decades in technology-driven industries; facing the rapid and diversified environment, a merger or an acquisition is a common use for those high-tech companies. More and more companies, under this circumstance, find that growth through acquisition is the most effective option. Issues pertaining to M&A activities in High-tech industry are not simply relegated to large, multinational corporations. Understanding how intellectual property rights are involved with mergers and acquisitions, in addition to those anti-trust and unfair competition issues arose from technology monopoly are essential given how M&A activities in the legal field has come to dominate, both in volume and in value, merger transactions. In reviewing, analyzing and organizing the rule of laws, the law system and the numerous cases in the United States, this study intends to discuss issues in acquiring technology, especially focusing on the issues of valuation and due diligence of intellectual properties.