In a recent article by Jun Oh, P. Eric Yeung, and Bo Zhu, published in The Accounting Review, the authors explore how technology coopetition impacts firms‘ voluntary disclosures of innovation. Technology coopetition refers to the delicate balance between cooperation and competition that companies face when participating in technology standard-setting organizations (SSOs).
According to the study, while firms collaborate within SSOs to create unified technology standards, they also compete for valuable patents, which creates a tension in how much information they choose to disclose. After joining an SSO, the research finds that firms reduce the specificity of R&D disclosures in their 10-K filings, delay patent filings, and make these disclosures more generic. The authors suggest this strategic behavior allows firms to protect their competitive position without fully sharing their innovative advances.
The article sheds light on how firms navigate this complex dynamic, balancing the need for cooperation with their competitive interests.
To read the full article, visit The Accounting Review.