Big Corporations Research Articles

The Artistic Use Defence in Trademark Dilution Cases – Hermès’ Legal Setback in Its Attempt to Prevent Others from Using Its Iconic Birkin Handbag

Abstract This opinion explores what constitutes a trademark parody in an artistic context and when it crosses the line of trademark infringement in dilution cases which occur beyond the traditional trademark protection from the likelihood of confusion. This is shown by analysing the latest two decisions regarding trademark parody handed down by the German Frankfurt am Main Regional Court in a case in which Hermès has suffered a setback in its attempt to prevent a fashion label from using its iconic Birkin handbag at the Berlin fashion show in 2023. While parody is considered a protected form of speech or artistic expression, no clear-cut legal rule separates a legitimate parody from an infringing use, in particular in cases of so-called mixed expressions where the reference to the protected trademark is not closely tied to commercial use but still happens outside of a purely artistic context. Compared to the statutory copyright’s flexible fair use defence, there is simply too little case law available to draw on in trademark dilution law. The few rigid defences German courts have cobbled together in trademark cases illustrate that trademark could benefit from a clearer identification of use categories. The following analysis of these decisions aims at highlighting that urgent trademark reforms are necessary in the area of art-related fair use defences. Furthermore, the following analysis will illustrate how big corporations like Hermès can fail when attempting to use trademark rights to control the meaning not only of wealth and exclusivity but also of conspicuous consumption and the equally conspicuous display of wealth, status and power in male-dominated domains.

Big data analytics and corporate financing constraints: Evidence from a developing country

AbstractUsing the panel data of A‐share listed companies from 2011 to 2020, we explore the effect of big data analytics (BDA) development on corporate financing constraints. We innovatively design quantitative indicators of BDA with the help of textual methods and found that BDA can significantly mitigate corporate financing constraints after a series of robust and endogeneity test. Moreover, BDA can promote the corporate's total factor productivity (TFP) and increase the financing capacity of corporation. Overall, BDA will significantly ease corporate financing constraints.

Corporate dentistry – An insight and vision for future

Not been a long while since dentistry used to be a family or community-acquainted profession. Utmost of our parents used to visit one or two dentists as family dentists. A single dentist used to care for the dental health of a small community in that area. In a sense, dentistry was more particular. Recently, with adding mindfulness and generation gaps, the conception of a ‘family dentist’ is sluggishly fading. Patients are more apprehensive, want technical treatment, and prefer all specialists under a single roof. Many times agone, private dentists considered their neighbourhood competitive conventions a trouble to their practice. With changing times, the thing which interpreters consider dangerous now is big corporate titans, opening luxurious centers and dental chains across the visage world. With the use of a huge marketing machine and the capability to offer targeted impulses that are grounded on request exploration, corporate dentistry is veritably delicate to contend with. At the same time, it’s arising as a comfortable career option for dentists. A country like India, with around 1 billion population being a huge potent request for corporate dental chains. To tap this largely profitable market corporate or corporate thinking has surfaced.

A Scientometric analysis of brand building process in organizations

Brand building has been suggested as an important process in the success of any business. In order to find out brand building framework for SMEs literature review was conducted, the problem identified from literature is that there is a lack of structured brand building framework for SMEs as compare to big Corporations and MNCs. Brand building conceptual model emerging from this review can allow SMEs to establish distinguished brand identity that help them to survive and enhances business performance, it can change how people perceive brand, it can drive new business, and increase brand value. Furthermore, new moderating variable employee-brand knowledge has been incorporated into the proposed framework. This research also adds to the already existing body of literature and also provide basis for future research studies.

The impact of big tech corporate venture capital investments on innovation: Evidence from the equity investment market

Big technology companies have undeniably left an indelible mark on society, shaping it with their groundbreaking products and services. However, concerns have arisen regarding their market dominance and the potential stifling of competition and innovation, resulting in the formation of ominous “kill zones.” As a response to these concerns, regulatory scrutiny has intensified. To contribute to a better understanding of this issue, this paper introduces a distinctive dataset encompassing the years from 2010 to 2018, drawing from the Chinese equity investment market. We conduct an empirical analysis to examine the impact of corporate venture capital investments made by tech giants on the innovation of the recipient firms. Our results unveil a positive and notable influence of these investments on innovation, particularly in the domain of substantial innovations such as invention patents. Additionally, we delve into the underlying mechanisms propelling this effect, identifying that the innovation incentives of tech behemoths primarily stem from the infusion of financial resources, technological synergies, and a wealth of diversified knowledge accrued through joint investments. These findings bear significant implications for policymakers and regulators who must delicately balance the scales of competition and innovation within the technology sector.

ФОРМУВАННЯ ЛАНЦЮГІВ ДОДАНОЇ ВАРТОСТІ ЛІТІЙ-ІОННИХ БАТАРЕЙ: СВІТОВА ПРАКТИКА ТА ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ДЛЯ УКРАЇНИ

The article examines the economic and geographical aspects of the formation and the main stages of the of value-added chains for lithium-ion batteries production. The purpose of the study is to identify the features of the value-added chain development, considering the methods of lithium extraction worldwide, as well as the development of recommendations for the lithium extraction and processing deployment in Ukraine. The eight stages of lithium transformation into lithium-ion batteries were analyzed and the technological specificity of each phase was defined. It was also determined that processing of lithium ores – spodumene or petalite – is the costliest stage of production, which explains the high cost of cathodes produced on the next step. The cost structure of the production of batteries and electric vehicles was studied, and it was revealed that the lithium-ion batteries contribute significantly to the added value of electric mobiles. The main patterns of the formation of added value along the value-added chain are determined, which in particular lie in the reduction of added value during the transition from one link to another at the higher stages of the production of lithium-ion batteries, the gradual reduction of battery production costs in the world and their further reduction until 2032 year, the threat of the country falling into a raw material trap, when trade and industrial policies focus on extraction and primary processing, which makes it impossible to further increase the added value in the industry. Also, the technological advances to reduce production costs and environmental impact becomes a leading trend among big production corporations. The conditions and recommendations for the Ukraine's integration into the global value chains of the lithium industry were presented. They include stimulation of research and development in lithium mining technology from petalite, assignment of an institutional body to coordinate investments in the lithium industry and to establish strategic partnerships; promotion of sustainability along the lithium-ion battery value chain; and integration into the European Union e-mobile production, as well as an internal market of electric vehicles development.

Земские врачи Осинского уезда Пермской губернии в 1870–1919 гг. (к дискуссии о типичном образе этих специалистов)

Already contemporaries, and then several generations of researchers, tried to create a typical image of a zemstvo doctor. The results obtained were very contradictory. According to the supporters of one historiographic tradition, conventionally called “romantic” by us, many zemstvo doctors devoted themselves to selfless service to the common people. Others (conditionally "pragmatic") believe that for these specialists the possibility of self-realization in cities was more attractive. The significant difference of these zemstvo doctors created images is largely determined by quantitative parameters. Supporters of the "romantic" historiographical tradition focus their attention on the life and work of individual specialists who served for a long time in the same local government and/or performed various public functions. Their opponents tend to consider this medical corporation, noting the frequent change of duty station by most of its members, especially in rural areas. For further analysis, painstaking work is needed to create databases for all zemstvo doctors in a wide chronological range. This will make it possible to systematize information about the places and terms of their service, the reasons for their abandonment, previous and subsequent professional activities, changing the self-awareness of this category of the population. The authors created such a database for all 70 zemstvo doctors who served in the Osinsky district of the Perm province in 1870–1919. Its materials testify to the predominantly pragmatic nature of the activities of most of these specialists. The average service life of zemstvo doctors in the Osinsky zemstvo was 3.5 years. Moreover, this indicator was largely ensured by the long-term activity of several physicians. The most common reason for the dismissal of zemstvo doctors in the county was the transition to a service with more comfortable conditions. At the same time, here, as in all other districts of the Perm province, there were some vivid examples of their many years of selfless activity. In general, the creation of a typical image of a zemstvo doctor, even at the level of a separate province or county, seems to us a debatable goal. This big corporation included representatives very different in their life attitudes. Therefore, contemporaries already reasonably selected several typical images of zemstvo doctors at once.

A Review: Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine

Abstract: Optimizing treatment effectiveness and reducing the risk of medication toxicity for each patient is the aim of customized medicine. It demonstrates the proper substance and dose, the appropriate patient, and the timely delivery of treatment. Molecular diagnosis and customized medication regimens based on each patient's unique genetic composition are the main goals of personalized medicine. This study's primary goal is to assess personalized medicine's uses, advantages, drawbacks, and consequences for healthcare. Prospective viewpoints and real-world clinical implementations. Personalized medicine promises to diagnose, stop, and treat disease. Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is the study of how genetic variation in an individual's reaction to medication occurs. It is the newest branch of medicine and is rapidly developing as a field of study. The pharmaceutical business is learning how to apply it, include it into the process of developing new drugs, and better handle the expectations of the medical community. Pharmacogenomics can provide more effective and less adverse effect treatments by customizing medications to a patient's genetic composition. Big pharma corporations have not embraced individualized medicine despite these advantages

Corporate science communication: a compound ideological and mega-ideological discourse

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to science communication literature by further highlighting the underexplored role of organizational and corporate perspectives in science communication.Design/methodology/approachThe paper takes the form of a conceptual article that uses two illustrative vignettes to highlight the power of corporate science communication.FindingsThe key argument is that corporate science communication is a compound ideology that results from merging the hegemonic corporate voice with the ultimate/god-term science (see the work of Kenneth Burke) to form a mega-ideological construct and discourse. Such communication can be so powerful that vulnerable publics and powerful advocates speaking on their behalf have little to no recourse to effectively challenge such discourse. While critiques of corporate science communication in practice are not new, what the authors offer is a possible explanation as to why such discourse is so powerful and hard to combat.Originality/valueThe value of this paper is in the degree to which it both sets an important applied research agenda for the field and fills a critical void in the science communication literature. This conceptual article, in the form of a critical analysis, fills the void by advocating for the inclusion of organizational perspectives in science communication research because of the great potential that organizations have, via science communication, to shape societal behavior and outcomes both positively and negatively. It also coins the terms “compound ideology” and “mega-ideology” to denote that while all ideologies are powerful, ideologies can operate in concert (compound) to change their meaning and effectiveness. By exposing the hegemonic power of corporate science communication, future researchers and practitioners can use these findings as a foundation to combat misinformation and disinformation campaigns wielded by big corporate science entities and the public relations firms often hired to carry out these campaigns.

CSR performance practices and COVID-19 – a qualitative study of SME owners in UAE

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the corporate social responsibility performance among small and medium enterprise (SME) owners in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before and during COVID-19. This study shows insights into the barriers that could affect the CSR performance practices of UAE SMEs, and related implications are discussed in the study.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a longitudinal qualitative research design. The research comprised 30 interviews from 15 SME owners that were studied prior to and during the pandemic. The 15 interview participants are the sole owners of these SMEs and are Emirati citizens. They were identified through personal contacts and referrals.FindingsStudy findings show that there was a clear shift during the pandemic to place more focus on employees. CSR performance practices are dominated by strategies for caring for the environment and employees. During the pandemic, the priority was paying employees at least a portion of their salary despite financial hardships and ensuring their health and well-being. Prior to the crisis, the key barrier to the implementation of CSR performance practices was a lack of knowledge. During the pandemic, barriers identified included uncertainty and financial constraints. Furthermore, all the owners believe that big corporations should be more socially responsible and SMEs should be the recipients of CSR practices. Lastly, the owners expressed their belief in the values of transparency, integrity, commitment, efficiency and responsibility.Originality/valueThis study is a novel attempt to gain an in-depth understanding of CSR among SMEs in the UAE in the context of a pandemic. It looks specifically at the performance practices pursued by SME owners in the UAE before and during the COVID-19 crisis.

Dynamic Hilbert clustering based on convex set for web services aggregation

<div align=""><span lang="EN-US">In recent years, web services run by big corporations and different application-specific data centers have all been embraced by several companies worldwide. Web services provide several benefits when compared to other communication technologies. However, it still suffers from congestion and bottlenecks as well as a significant delay due to the tremendous load caused by a large number of web service requests from end users. Clustering and then aggregating similar web services as one compressed message can potentially achieve network traffic reduction. This paper proposes a dynamic Hilbert clustering as a new model for clustering web services based on convex set similarity. Mathematically, the suggested models compute the degree of similarity between simple object access protocol (SOAP) messages and then cluster them into groups with high similarity. Next, each cluster is aggregated as a compact message that is finally encoded by fixed-length or Huffman. The experiment results have shown the suggested model performs better than the conventional clustering techniques in terms of compression ratio. The suggested model has produced the best results, reaching up to 15 with fixed-length and up to 20 with Huffman</span></div>

Artificial Intelligence as a catalyst for the Sustainability of Small and Medium Scale Businesses (SMEs) in Nigeria

Purpose: This study examines the role of AI in small business operations. Specifically, we identified areas where AI could be deployed, barriers to deployment of AI, identified AI tools in business, and ascertained the number of SMEs that consciously use any form of AI in their business operations. Research Methodology: This study adopted a descriptive design. The population of the study was 27546 small businesses that were registered under the Cooperate Affairs Commission (CAC), and a sample size of 379 was arrived at by adopting Krejcie and Morgan's 1970 sample size determination formula. The source of data was solely primary through interviews, which later formed a stepping stone for the structured questionnaire used for the study. The instrument was validated and tested for reliability. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics consisting of frequencies and percentages. Results: Most SMEs in Nigeria are still operating manually; hence, they do not enjoy the massive potential of AI deployment and remain perpetually small in size. Limitations: Descriptive statistics for the analysis were used to reduce the inferrability of the findings. Contribution: Given the increasing dependence on technology and AI, this study highlights the importance of AI not only for big and multinational corporations, but also for SMEs in Nigeria. Novelty: A study of this nature has not been undertaken in Nigeria, specifically focusing on southeast Nigeria, which has a large number of small businesses in the region.

Independensi Kebijakan Moneter dalam Jangka Pendek: Kasus Indonesia

Using Capital Flow Model and Central Bank Reaction Function for the case of Indonesia before the current crisis, this paper found that during Indonesia implemented fixed exchange rate regime the monetary policy which was done by Bank of Indonesia has lost its independence. The regression results using Two Stage Least Square method show that the monetary policy during the period before the current crisis in Indonesia was very influenced by the behavior of private capital flows. To neutralize the liquidity effects of private capital inflows as a response to deregulation packages in financial and banking sector in the late of 1980s, Bank of Indonesia has actively implemented the sterilization policies. The regression results of the Central Bank Reaction Function indicate that Bank of Indonesia could not completely sterilize the liquidity effects of private capital inflows. This situation made the monetary policy undertaken by Bank of Indonesia lost its power to stabilize inflation in the economy. The phenomenon of high inflation which followed high economic growth (overheating economy) during the period before the current crisis has significantly reduced the index of competitiveness of Indonesian goods and services in the world market. This is one of the main factors that caused slower Indonesian export growth just before the crisis began in the mid of 1997. This situation made the level of supply of foreign exchange in domestic market dropped significantly, while on the other side the demand level increased as many big corporate businesses and government institutions needed foreign exchange to repay their foreign debt. Rupiah become unstable and public expectation for further devaluation widened. This was the beginning of the current crisis that until now put Indonesia into the deep trouble. Therefore, the most important contribution of this paper is its investigation to the linkage between deregulation and the current crisis. This paper recommends that one of the main factors that generate the Indonesian current crisis has showed up far before the crisis began. It was started when the monetary policy lost its power to stabilize inflation that was caused by behavior of private capital inflows as a response to the wrong sequence of deregulation policies in Indonesia.

Machinic Visibility in Platform Discourses: Ubiquitous Interfaces for Precarious Users

Ubiquitous interfaces are becoming a key element in the promotional materials of tech companies. These new interfaces, normally associated with AR and VR systems, promise a future of frictionless technological interaction, allowing users to access any information and service from anywhere. Both factual and fictional, these systems are shown to enrich their users’ lives through machinic modes of vision and visualisation. In this paper, we frame promotional materials as elements in the discourses of Big Tech corporations that serve a strategic role in the expansion of their digital platforms. We analyse the symbolic role played by ubiquitous interfaces in the promotion of three digital platform services: Amazon’s Alexa Together, Microsoft’s Azure and Meta’s Metaverse. We claim that narratives of sensorial enrichment and empowerment—allowing people to not only see more, but better—are key in normalising the presence of platform interfaces in users’ lives. However, these narratives also advance what we call a regime of machinic visibility: a dependency of human vision on data processes and their visualisation. The imagined user of these services is a precarious one, unable to function or ‘see’ properly without a platform’s digital infrastructure. This precarity then justifies a relationship of dependence: the companies frame their products not just as enhancements, but as vital components of everyday life, implying that life itself is untenable without the intervention of platform companies. At the same time, Big Tech eschews criticism of its own role in undermining the social infrastructures and networks on which people depend.

Specific features of big corporations lobbying in the political dynamics of global megapolis (case of the housing renovation program in Moscow). Part 1

Specific features of big corporations lobbying in the political dynamics of global megapolis (case of the housing renovation program in Moscow). Part 1

Development and consumer acceptance testing of a honey-based beverage fermented by a multi-species starter culture

Despite being recognized as a risk factor for noncommunicable diseases (NCD), regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) is promoted by the commercial interests of big business corporations and is not properly regulated by governments. To meet the demand for a healthier alternative to SSB, this study aimed to develop a honey-based fermented beverage and to evaluate its consumer acceptance. The top-down selection of bacteria and yeasts, isolated from six commercial symbiotic cultures and characterized in a honey-based experimental solution, was followed by the bottom-up construction of a defined multi-species starter culture. Plant extracts and bottle conditioning were used in a pilot-scale production for the sensory analysis of consumer acceptance with a three-domain questionnaire. Of the thirty-three isolated microorganisms, eleven did not grow on the honey-based broth, whereas eight were excluded for their excessive acidification. Two bacteria and three yeasts were carefully chosen for the multi-species starter culture employed in the pilot-scale production, resulting in a carbonated beverage without residual carbohydrates, no detectable acetic acid, 1.0 ± 0.1 g/L of lactic acid, 2.6 ± 0.3 g/L of glycerol and 5.4 ± 0.3 g/L of ethanol. Sensory beverage analysis by a hundred and twelve potential consumers revealed an eighty-six percent acceptance index. These results suggest that the developed beverage is well accepted, even having no sugar content and no chemical additives, being a promising alternative to hyper-caloric ultra-processed beverages.

Harmonizing Personal and Professional Boundaries: An Explanatory Qualitative Study of Relationship Tensions from a Critical Realist Perspective

Organisations attempt to maintain the balance between personal friendships and professional relationships. Proof of this is how organisations assert the importance of team-building activities that it has become a regular in the annual plan of big and small corporations alike. The goals – promote camaraderie and create more friendships in the workplace. Yet, organisations also worry that employees will be too close that work matters will be disrupted, interactions will be less professional, and conflicts of interest will arise. The spectrum of friendships spans from initial acquaintances to close and best friends that weave human interactions (Hojjat & Moyer, 2017; Morales, 2022, Sias & Cahill, 1998). This involves shared respect, genuine regard, and reciprocal exchanges that grow as the bond between individuals strengthens. In the workplace, friendships go beyond social connections, fostering support and a deeper sense of belonging (Dietz & Fasbender, 2022; Morales, 2022). Keywords: workplace friendships, critical realist, tensions, personal friendships, professional relationships

Leveraging Small Business Development Through Employment Contracts: The Mediation Effect of Job Insecurity

Following enormous de-industrialisation and a series of industrial offshoring of big corporate entities over the past decade, Small Medium and Micro Enterprises have risen into prominence by their inert abilities of employment creation and poverty mitigation, particularly in the context of developing countries such as Zimbabwe. However, their continued failure has left the nation’s economy tottering at the brink of collapse, hence paling the vision 2030 of engineering the country’s economy towards attaining upper-middle income status beyond visibility and feasibility. High labour turnover is attributed as the chief cause of this phenomenon. In view of that, the current study sought to assess the moderating role of job insecurity on the nature of employment contracts and SMME development. The nature of the employment contract is deemed instrumental in promoting work commitment towards SMME development. This work commitment is anchored on an individual’s perceptions of job security. As such, for some, the nature of the employment contract becomes the sole driver to display extra effort at work in fear of losing a job. At times, such job loss fears are largely determined by one’s family needs and responsibilities. The hypotheses are tested using a sample size of 256 individuals working and owning SMMEs. The Raosoft sample size calculator was used for the sample size determination. SPSS Process was used to test if job insecurity mediates employment contracts and small business development. The empirical outcome suggests that employment contracts have a predictive effect on SMME development and that the turnover intention had a full mediation effect between employment contracts and small business development.

Os impactos da lei geral de proteção de dados nas relações empresariais

The scandals of data leakage carried out by big corporations, impelled the debates about the necessity of a specific legislation to regulate the subject. In this sense, on April 15, 2016, the General Regulation for the Protection of Personal Data (GDPR), applicable to all countries of the European Union, was approved. Inspired by the GDPR, the General Law for the Protection of Personal Data (LGPD), is a regulatory framework for the subject in Brazil, implying major changes in the business sphere. Given the relevance of the subject, the present research aims to point out the main aspects of the new legislation in the daily business, especially with regard to the challenges for its implementation.

The watchdog role in the age of Big Tech – how news media in the United States and Germany hold Big Tech corporations accountable

ABSTRACT The unprecedented power of Big Tech corporations and the complexity of regulating them requires considering the role of news media as a corporate accountability mechanism. The aim of this article is to examine news media’s watchdog role through a performative lens, extending it to the corporate context by looking at three manifestations of performance: media visibility, way of coverage, and sourcing patterns. Based on a longitudinal quantitative content analysis of 920 news stories on Big Tech from four media outlets (2000–2021) in the United States and Germany, we explain variances in the watchdog role taking an over-time, cross-country, and cross-political leaning perspective. Our findings suggest that Big Tech corporations receive little but increasing media attention over the years that is driven by events. Similarly, news coverage contains an increasingly strong presence of a detached watchdog role performance. A more interventionist watchdog role is also on the rise – even though marginally – and political actors are increasingly given a voice in news coverage. From a comparative perspective, our results show that Big Tech corporations are more visible in the US and across right leaning news outlets. US journalists exhibit a more detached approach, while German journalists perform a significantly higher interventionist performance. Corporate sources are overall prominent in the media arena yet dominate more in the US. In conclusion, US and German news media are critical but passive observers over Big Tech corporations and can therefore be labeled a tame yet increasingly growling watchdog when it comes to holding Big Tech accountable.