What opportunity do overlapping rights provide for firms?

Overlapping rights in intellectual property, such as patents and trademarks, provide firms with the opportunity to purchase patent rights and sue companies that might infringe on those rights. This is a strategic move that firms can leverage to protect their innovations and investments. By acquiring patents, firms can safeguard their inventions from unauthorized use by competitors, which can also lead to licensing opportunities that generate revenue. This enforcement of rights not only promotes competition based on innovation but also allows firms to maintain exclusive control over their creations, supporting their market position and potentially enhancing profitability.

The other options, while related to intellectual property considerations, do not directly capture the primary strategic advantage provided by overlapping rights. Limiting the ability to trademark products or enhancing brand uniqueness may be outcomes of a strong intellectual property portfolio, but they do not represent the specific opportunity presented by overlapping rights. Restricting competition could occur as a secondary effect of enforcing patent rights, but it is not the main intention or opportunity that overlapping rights create for firms.