We study the determinants of patent suits and their outcomes over the period 1978-1999 by linking detailed information … from the U.S. patent office, the federal court system, and industry sources. The probability of being involved in a suit is … heterogeneous, being much higher for valuable patents and for patents owned by individuals and smaller firms. Thus the patent system …

We study the determinants of patent suits and their outcomes over the period 1978-1999 by linking detailed information … from the U.S. patent office, the federal court system, and industry sources. The probability of being involved in a suit is … patent system generates incentives, net of expected enforcement costs, that differ across inventors. Patentees with a large …

We study the determinants of patent suits and their outcomes over the period 1978-1999 by linking detailed information … from the U.S. patent office, the federal court system, and industry sources. The probability of being involved in a suit is … patent system generates incentives, net of expected enforcement costs, that differ across inventors. Patentees with a large …