Eric Von Hippel is a pioneer of user-led innovation research and writes very well on the democratisation of innovation. He proposes that the internet and the ability of lead users to collaborate will completely change the way that businesses, and countries, innovate.
The focus on concepts in today’s business world combined with capability for collaborative invention has fascinating implications for intellectual property law and the future of the way that idas are concieved, developed and spread. Its very exciting.
There’s was a jolly good interview with Von Hippel on the BBC world service. You can listen to it here.