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Cybersecurity risk and corporate innovation

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  • Lattanzio, Gabriele
  • Ma, Yue

Abstract

Using a text-based metric of firms' ex-ante exposure to cybersecurity risk, we document that the rise of cyber threats is redesigning corporate innovation and appropriation strategies. As firms' exposure to cybersecurity risk increases, managers' reliance on trade secrets declines, as they seek to protect their firms' intellectual capital under the umbrella provided by patent and intellectual property laws. In particular, we document that firms exposed to cyber threats file for simpler patents to accelerate their innovation cycle. This strategic adjustment is not costless, as it causes firms' returns to research and development (R&D) investments to decline significantly.

Suggested Citation

  • Lattanzio, Gabriele & Ma, Yue, 2023. "Cybersecurity risk and corporate innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:82:y:2023:i:c:s0929119923000949
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2023.102445
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. I. P. L. Png, 2017. "Secrecy and Patents: Theory and Evidence from the Uniform Trade Secrets Act," Strategy Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(3), pages 176-193, September.
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    6. Crass, Dirk & Garcia Valero, Francisco & Pitton, Francesco & Rammer, Christian, 2016. "Protecting innovation through patents and trade secrets: Determinants and performance impacts for firms with a single innovation," ZEW Discussion Papers 16-061, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    7. Stoffman, Noah & Woeppel, Michael & Yavuz, M. Deniz, 2022. "Small innovators: No risk, No return," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(1).
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mauro Caselli & Edwin Fourrier-Nicolai & Andrea Fracasso & Sergio Scicchitano, 2024. "Digital Technologies and Firms’ Employment and Training," CESifo Working Paper Series 11056, CESifo.
    2. Chang, Tsung-Sheng & Hsieh, Yao-Chian, 2024. "Applying the analytic hierarchy process for investigating key indicators of responsible innovation in the Taiwan software service industry," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    3. Abukari, Kobana & Dutta, Shantanu & Li, Chen & Tang, Songlian & Zhu, Pengcheng, 2024. "Corporate communication and likelihood of data breaches," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    4. Tang, Haodan & Liang, Jiaxuan & Fang, Senhui, 2024. "The innovation effect of digital M&As: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    5. Guohong, Zheng & Zhongwei, Xia & Feng, He & Zhongyi, Xiao, 2025. "The audit committee’s IT expertise and its impact on the disclosure of cybersecurity risk," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cyber risk; Hacking; Corporate innovation; Patents; Trade secrets;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • M15 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - IT Management
    • M48 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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