This report explores the problem of "cluttering" of trade mark registers. The report consists of two parts:The first presents a conceptual discussion of “cluttering” of trade mark registers.The second part provides an exploratory empirical analysis of trade mark applications at the UK...

This report analyses whether entry of UK enterprises into patenting in a technology area is affected by patent thickets in the technology area.The aim is to contribute to our understanding of the role of patent thickets as a barrier to entry into new technologies for UK enterprises, in...

The use of intellectual property right bundles by firms in the UK This report presents the exploratory analysis of the use of different types of IPRs as part of an intellectual property rights bundle by firms registered in the UK

The aim is to contribute to our understanding of the role of patent thickets as a barrier to entry into new technologies for UK enterprises, in particular small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).The report consists of several parts:A review of the literature on patent thickets, including the...

This research is the initial investigation into the relationship between holders of registered IPRs and growth performance of firms, measured in terms of growth in assets, employment, or sales. The results are not intended to be considered in isolation but were used to inform ‘The use of...

One of the most puzzling findings in the empirical analysis of firms’ patenting behaviour is the low proportion of patenting firms in the population of registered companies. Also, there is evidence suggesting that firms may not patent all patentable inventions and that this behaviour differs...