Innovation and IP Use in the Chilean Copper Mining Sector

This chapter presents some preliminary evidence about the way both mining firms and suppliers innovate in Chile and whether (and, if yes, how) they protect their innovations. It includes semi-structured interviews with senior executives at a sample of Chilean mining firms, mining, equipment, technology and services (METS) and universities. This analysis is complemented with information coming from an online survey applied to 300 Chilean METS. Finally, a group of twenty lawyers specializing in intellectual property was surveyed to provide their opinions regarding: the role of IP in the mining sector, the likely benefits of the introduction of a patent box mechanism in the Chilean legislation, and the role the Chilean IP Office (INAPI) is playing in this area. Interviews with INAPI's senior staff members also present the policies implemented over the last years in order to promote the use of IP instruments in the mining sector.