Most econometric analyses of patent data rely on regression methods using a parametric form of the predictor for modeling the dependence of the response given certain covariates. These methods often lack the capability of identifying non-linear relationships between dependent and independent...

The patent system has gained political attention in both Europe and the US as the core regulatory regime of an increasingly knowledge-based economy. Europe and the US alike have recently engaged in a series of reform efforts of their patent systems. These efforts reflect a shift from a legal and...

We report the results of the first comparative study of the determinants and effects of patent oppositions in Europe and of re-examinations on corresponding patents issued in the United States. The analysis is based on a dataset consisting of matched EPO and US patents. Our analysis focuses on...