The past decade has seen unprecedented growth in patent issuance and litigation. In the midst of great changes in the ways technology is financed, the author questions the classical model of patent incentive, which justifies patents on the basis of the encouragement they offer to engage in research and development. Prof. Lemley sees a need for additional research into the real causes of innovation and offers starting points for this type of study. Patents are being used in a number of innovative ways, such as cross-licensing, as well as functioning as financing tools. Prof. Lemley argues that these uses should become the new focus of academic patent research, rather than the atypical enforcement of patents through litigation. Prof. Lemley also suggests exploring patent law policy changes more in line with the new uses of patents, among them methods of limiting patent litigation, accelerating the patenting process, and encouraging informal patent use.
Excerpts and Summaries
Created
Friday 21 of August, 2009 15:45:46 GMT by Unknown
LastModif
Wednesday 04 of November, 2009 00:00:07 GMT by Michael Risch