Intellectual property rights and sustainability success: a survey of small and medium-sized firm innovators

Abstract The societal benefits from intellectual property rights (IPRs) are contested in the sustainable innovation literature. Current European innovation policy promotes achieving sustainability through innovation, but do innovators see IPRs as stimulating or hindering sustainable innovation? Based on a sample of small and medium-sized enterprise respondents primarily from the Benelux region who recently introduced a product innovation, the opinions on IPRs are surveyed. Results show IPRs do not hinder—but enable the sustainability success of new products. The principal finding, however, indicates the innovator’s intent does not impact the relationship: for example, a more sustainability-proactive innovator could not use IPRs in such a way as to attain better sustainability success for their new product. Theoretical explanations and potential policy implications are examined, which entail examining the results in the positive–negative views on IPRs in light of sustainability, and proposing steps to align IPRs with transitions to sustainability.