The role of software patents in sustaining IT-enabled competitive advantage: a call for research Kathleen Mykytyn a, * , Peter P. Mykytyn Jr. b,1 , Bijoy Bordoloi c,2 , Vicki McKinney d,3 , Kakoli Bandyopadhyay e,4 a 102 N. Gordon Lane, Apt. A Carbondale, IL 62901, USA b Department of Management, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA c Department of Computer Management and Information Systems, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1106, USA d Department of Information Systems, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA e Department of Information Systems and Analysis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710, USA Received 29 January 2001; accepted 2 October 2001 Abstract A number of information technology (IT) researchers have examined IT and sustained competi- tive advantage. However, the relationship between software patents and IT sustained advantage is often unclear and incomplete. This paper reviews some of that research, pointing out various research contributions while indicating some of the problematic issues in dealing with competitive advantage and software patents. In addition, we highlight a number of software-based patents that have been awarded to organizations in diverse industries, including some that provide researchers and executives with insight into how organizations are protecting unique business methods with software patents. We also pose some intriguing research questions, including determining why ®rms do in fact patent software, and investigating the potential differences in doing business globally involving countries that either take steps to protect software assets with patents versus those that do not. Based on the information presented, we anticipate that IT researchers would be more open to Journal of Strategic Information Systems 11 (2002) 59±82 0963-8687/02/$ - see front matter q 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII: S0963-8687(01)00057-9 www.elsevier.com/locate/jsis * Corresponding author. Tel.: 11-618-549-1946. E-mail addresses: kmykytyn@aol.com (K. Mykytyn), mykytyn@cba.siu.edu (P.P. Mykytyn Jr.), bbordol@ siue.edu (B. Bordoloi), vmckinney@walton.uark.edu (V. McKinney), bandyopaku@hal.lamar.edu (K. Bandyopadhyay). 1 Tel.: 11-618-453-7885. 2 Tel.: 11-618-650-3947. 3 Tel.: 11-501-575-7740. 4 Tel.: 11-409-880-8635.