A quality index for patent systems

Matthis de Saint-Georges and Bruno van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Bruno van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie ()

Research Policy, 2013, vol. 42, issue 3, 704-719

Abstract: This paper presents a quality index for patent systems. The index is composed of nine operational design components that shape the transparency and stringency of patent systems and affect the extent to which they comply with patentability conditions. Seven components are related to rules and regulations (e.g., grace period, opposition process and continuation-in-parts), while two components measure patent offices’ resource allocation policy (i.e., workload per examiner and incentives). The index is computed for 32 national patent systems, and displays a high degree of heterogeneity across countries. Cross-sectional quantitative analyses suggest that the demand for patent rights is lower in patent systems with a higher quality index, controlling for research efforts, patent fees and the “strength” of enforcement mechanisms. These results have important policy and research (metrics) implications.

Keywords: Patent system; Quality; Patent propensity; Intellectual property (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O30 O31 O34 O38 O57 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (24)

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Related works:
Working Paper: A quality index for patent systems (2011)
Working Paper: A Quality Index for Patent Systems (2011)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:respol:v:42:y:2013:i:3:p:704-719

DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2012.09.003

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