Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to provide a new explanation for conducing R&D in in developing countries with weak intellectual property rights (IPR) protection by MNEs. On the basis of structural embeddedness framework, knowledge developed in weak IPR country implant into knowledge module in global R&D network. The resulting “implicity” service as protection mechanism for innovation. By using self-citation ratio of patents as measurement of strength of structural embeddedness, econometric results prove structural embeddedness is good substitute of weak IPR protection for innovation. At last, we propose corresponding advices for manager and policy-maker.