As more companies outsource non-core activities and enter into alliances to extend their competitive reach, the risk that someone - a potential partner or vendor - could poach their intellectual property is increasing. While the risk of such theft is hardly new, it is rapidly becoming a serious problem in today's post-industrial, information-driven society. Wharton's Eric K. Clemons and Lorin M. Hitt have been studying the issue. Clemons presented the major elements of this research at a recent conference..