Patents and the Diffusion of Technical Information

14 Pages Posted: 16 Mar 2004

See all articles by James E. Bessen

James E. Bessen

Technology & Policy Research Initiative, BU School of Law

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: March 2004

Abstract

Does the disclosure requirement of the patent system encourage the diffusion of inventions? This paper builds a simple model where firms choose between patents and trade secrecy to protect inventions. Diffusion is not necessarily more likely with a patent system nor is the market for technology necessarily greater.

Keywords: Patents, innovation, diffusion, trade secrecy

JEL Classification: K3, L5, O3

Suggested Citation

Bessen, James E., Patents and the Diffusion of Technical Information (March 2004). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=517024 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.517024

James E. Bessen (Contact Author)

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

765 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
276
Abstract Views
2,014
Rank
201,600
PlumX Metrics