IP issues of collaborative economy platforms in Latin America

The present factsheet focuses on a particular category of online platforms that are especially attractive to SMEs: collaborative economy platforms.

In 2016, the European Commission defined these platforms in its “European Agenda for the Collaborative Economy”, as open marketplaces for the temporary usage of goods or services often provided by individuals or professionals. They involve three categories of agents: (i) service providers who share goods, digital content, resources, time, and/or skills in these platforms; (ii) users, who purchase these goods or services; and (iii) intermediaries that connect providers with users through an online platform, facilitating transactions between them.

Collaborative economy platforms are not only attractive to SMEs as a new means to reach customers and offer them products and services, but they are also interesting as a new business opportunity in itself. There are several examples of SMEs who have developed very successful collaborative economy platforms.