lower than the social planner’s benchmark, which suggests a role for patent policy. We focus on a “non-infringing inventive … instrument in the form of patent length policy. …

the optimal mix of patent and trade secrets when the innovator faces a strict novelty requirement and can only patent a … innovator can successively patent different fragments of the process. We compare a regime with prior user rights, when the …

patentability standards at PTOs (Patent and Trademark Offices awarding so-called bad patents), not only “false innovators” have the … chance of being granted patents but also, and more interestingly, “true innovators” are forced to patent more intensively … distortions caused by bad patents. Moreover, we show that introducing a two-tiered patent system is unlikely to improve market …

Recent empirical studies suggest a need for a flexible patent regime responding to industry characteristics. In … practice, sector-specific modifications of patent strength already exist but lack theoretical foundation. This paper intends to … make up for this neglect by scrutinizing in what direction industry characteristics influence optimal patent strength. It …

database of patent applications from a cross-section of countries evidence is provided for the positive effect of „flexibility …