Patent validation at the country level--The role of fees and translation costs

Dietmar Harhoff (), Karin Hoisl (), Bettina Reichl and Bruno van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Bruno van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie ()

Research Policy, 2009, vol. 38, issue 9, 1423-1437

Abstract: One feature of the European patent system that is heavily criticized nowadays is related to its fragmentation and the induced cost burden for applicants. Once a patent is granted by the EPO, the assignee must validate (and often translate) it and pay the renewal fees to keep it in force in each country in which protection is sought. The objective of this paper is to assess to what extent validation and renewal fees as well as translation costs affect the validation behavior of applicants. We rely on a gravity model that aims at explaining patent flows between inventor and target countries within the European patent system. The results show that the size of countries, their wealth and the distance between their capital cities are significant determinants of patent flows. Validation fees and renewal fees further affect the validation behavior of applicants. Translation costs seem to have an impact as well. The implementation of cost-reducing policy interventions like the London Protocol will, therefore, induce a significant increase in the number of patents validated in each European country.

Keywords: Patent; fees; Validation; fees; Renewal; fees; Gravity; model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (57)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Patent Validation at the Country Level - The Role of Fees and Translation costs (2007)
Working Paper: Patent Validation at the Country Level - The Role of Fees and Translation costs (2007)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:respol:v:38:y:2009:i:9:p:1423-1437

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