Also, Bah and Le Bas ( 2011 ) mobilized the literature on sectoral systems of innovation to develop the concept of sectoral systems of intellectual property (SSIP), a concept which illustrates that the optimal use of intellectual property is contingent to a set of elements which themselves depend largely on the sector in which the company operates. In parallel to this work, Pénin ( 2011 ) studied the determinants of fi rms’ optimal patenting strategy and argued that the technological regime (Nelson and Winter, 1982 ) plays a central role.