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Patent Enforcement: A Review Of The Literature

Author

Listed:
  • Kimberlee Weatherall
  • Elizabeth Webster
Abstract
Without the confidence that patent rights can be enforced quickly and efficiently, when needed, the patent system will not stimulate innovation. For this reason, governments, academics, international institutions and the private sector have poured significant resources into gathering and analysing statistics on patent enforcement over the last two decades. This paper reviews these studies and finds that while infringement is relatively common, much enforcement occurs informally and less than 1–2% of patents incur litigation. New strategic uses of the enforcement system, especially by nonpracticing entities, are the major emerging enforcement issue, especially in the United States. While the old problem of litigation costs attracts the lion's share of empirical attention, it has produced remarkably few solutions to date.

Suggested Citation

  • Kimberlee Weatherall & Elizabeth Webster, 2014. "Patent Enforcement: A Review Of The Literature," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(2), pages 312-343, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jecsur:v:28:y:2014:i:2:p:312-343
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    Cited by:

    1. Christian Helmers, 2018. "The economic analysis of patent litigation data," WIPO Economic Research Working Papers 48, World Intellectual Property Organization - Economics and Statistics Division.
    2. Ning Jia, 2019. "Corporate innovation strategy and disclosure policy," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 52(1), pages 253-288, January.
    3. Zhang, Ya-Feng & Li, Li-Ming & Xu, Ke, 2022. "Do specialized intellectual property courts show a pro-patent propensity? Evidence from China," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    4. Appio, Francesco Paolo & Baglieri, Daniela & Cesaroni, Fabrizio & Spicuzza, Lucia & Donato, Alessia, 2022. "Patent design strategies: Empirical evidence from European patents," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    5. Palangkaraya, Alfons & Jensen, Paul H. & Webster, Elizabeth, 2017. "The effect of patents on trade," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 1-9.
    6. de Rassenfosse, Gaétan & Jaffe, Adam B., 2018. "Econometric evidence on the depreciation of innovations," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 625-642.
    7. Lai, Shaojie & Yang, Laifeng & Wang, Qing & Anderson, Hamish D., 2023. "Judicial independence and corporate innovation: Evidence from the establishment of circuit courts," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    8. Junbyoung Oh & Zhen Sun & Kineung Choo, 2023. "Financial Market Reactions to Patent Litigation: An Event Study of Litigation in Korea," Korean Economic Review, Korean Economic Association, vol. 39, pages 175-203.
    9. Tang, Xudong & Wang, Lin, 2024. "When your friend takes a fall: Spillovers of patent infringement lawsuits on firm innovation via cross-owners," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).

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