Lessons for Patent Policy from Empirical Research on Patent Litigation

28 Pages Posted: 18 Nov 2005

See all articles by Michael J. Meurer

Michael J. Meurer

Boston University - School of Law

James E. Bessen

Technology & Policy Research Initiative, BU School of Law

Abstract

This Article reviews empirical patent litigation research to reveal patent policy lessons. First, the Article presents facts about patent litigation. Next, it analyzes the patent premium. Patent litigation research reveals little about the magnitude of the patent premium, but the research reveals the strategies firms use to capture the patent premium and the patent policy instruments that determine the patent premium. Next, the Article evaluates the patent prosecution process and notes that making efforts to refine a patent application can affect the value of the patent. The Article then identifies reforms for improving PTO performance. Finally, the Article discusses policy changes that patent litigation research suggests would improve procedural fairness and reduce patent litigation costs.

Keywords: patent, litigation, settlement, licensing, property rights

JEL Classification: O31, O34, K41

Suggested Citation

Meurer, Michael J. and Bessen, James E., Lessons for Patent Policy from Empirical Research on Patent Litigation. Lewis & Clark Law Review, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 1-27, 2005, Boston Univ. School of Law Working Paper No. 05-22, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=851044

Michael J. Meurer (Contact Author)

Boston University - School of Law ( email )

765 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
United States
617-353-6292 (Phone)
617-353-3077 (Fax)

James E. Bessen

Technology & Policy Research Initiative, BU School of Law ( email )

765 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
United States

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