ABSTRACT Purpose - This thesis analyses, firstly, how the environment affects the use of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in firms. Secondly, the connections between IPRs and firm's openness with regards to partner, phase, and content variety; and lastly, how firm's environment modifies IPRS-firm's openness relationship. Methodology - Based on a survey for R&D managers or similar job positions in 415 Swedish, Finish and Italian manufacturing firms, after obtaining the raw data, the results will be evaluated and discussed in reference to the theoretical framework. Results - The paper displays the correlation between formal IP mechanisms and firm's environment. In this way, the study exposes the common use of this kind of protection, on one hand, to deal with rising development technology costs and shortening product life cycles, and, on the other hand, in a technological environment. In addition, the work exhibits the value of IPRs in early phases and commercialization in the innovation process, regarding the need to acquire knowledge in creation, and safeguard R&D to take profit from it. Finally, the paper establishes a linear correlation that shows as higher environmental dynamism that leads to lower use of IPRs under OI regime. Limitations - This thesis is focused on formal IP protection mechanisms, firm's environment, and firm's openness, without pay attention to informal IP protection ways, which for sure are linked. This analysis is, however a subject for further research. Keywords: Intellectual property Rights, Firm's openness, Firm's environment, Survey.