Do Patents Perform Like Property?

31 Pages Posted: 7 Mar 2008

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

Do patents provide critical incentives to encourage investment in innovation? Or, instead, do patents impose legal risks and burdens on innovators that discourage innovation, as some critics now claim? This paper reviews empirical economic evidence on how well patents perform as a property system.

Keywords: patent, property rights, research and development

JEL Classification: O31, O34, K41

Suggested Citation

Meurer, Michael J. and Bessen, James E., Do Patents Perform Like Property?. Boston Univ. School of Law Working Paper No. 08-08, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1103143 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1103143

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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