One feature of the European patent system that is heavily criticized nowadays is related to its complex fragmentation … and the induced cost burden for applicants. Once a patent is granted by the EPO, the assignee must validate (and often … validation behavior of applicants. We rely on a gravity model that aims at explaining patent flows between inventor and target …

This paper provides new evidence about the budgetary consequences - for patent offices - of the coexistence of the … forthcoming Unitary Patent (UP) with the current European Patent (EP). Simulation results illustrate a dilemma between high UP … renewal fees to ensure enough financial income for all national patent offices (NPOs) and low UP renewal fees to make the UP …