Submission of Topics for USPTO Quality Case Studies

43 Pages Posted: 26 Feb 2016

See all articles by Colleen V. Chien

Colleen V. Chien

UC Berkeley School of Law

Brian J. Love

Santa Clara University - School of Law

Date Written: February 12, 2016

Abstract

This Comment responds to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) Request for Submission of Topics for USPTO Quality Case Studies, published December 21, 2015. As empirical scholars interested in using data to drive policy-making, we commend the USPTO’s approach of using “case studies” of the type specified in the RFC — i.e., “reviews of applications” and “examiner work products” — to help illuminate, inform, and hypothesis-test potential best practices in patent quality. However, we would like to draw attention to two, thus far largely overlooked sources of data outside the USPTO’s own prosecution records: (1) the prosecution records of foreign patent offices that examine counterparts to applications filed in the U.S. and (2) the outcomes of lawsuits and other proceedings that review the validity of issued U.S. patents. We propose three case studies that leverage these data sources for your consideration.

Keywords: patent quality, open data, European Patent Office, non-patent literature, foreign prior art, patent trial and appeal board, inter partes review

JEL Classification: O34, K41

Suggested Citation

Chien, Colleen V. and Love, Brian J., Submission of Topics for USPTO Quality Case Studies (February 12, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2737504

Colleen V. Chien

UC Berkeley School of Law ( email )

302 JSP
2240 Piedmont Ave
Berkeley, CA 94720
United States
510-664-5254 (Phone)

Brian J. Love (Contact Author)

Santa Clara University - School of Law ( email )

500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053
United States

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