The Choice between Formal and Informal Intellectual Property: A Literature Review

Bronwyn Hall, Christian Helmers (), Mark Rogers and Vania Sena

No 17983, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We survey the economic literature, both theoretical and empirical, on the choice of intellectual property protection by firms. Our focus is on the tradeoffs between using patents and disclosing versus the use of secrecy, although we also look briefly at the use of other means of formal intellectual property protection.

JEL-codes: K11 L29 O34 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cul, nep-his, nep-ino, nep-ipr, nep-pr~, nep-law and nep-tid
Note: IO LE PR
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

Published as Bronwyn Hall, Christian Helmers, Mark Rogers, Vania Sena “The Choice between Formal and Informal Intellectual Property: A Review.” Journal of Economic Literature, Vol. 52, No. 2, June 2014 (pp. 375-423)

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