Patent Validation at the Country Level - The Role of Fees and Translation costs

Harhoff, Dietmar; Hoisl, Karin; Reichl, Bettina und van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie, Bruno (1. November 2007): Patent Validation at the Country Level - The Role of Fees and Translation costs. Münchener Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Beiträge (BWL) 2007-12

Abstract

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 translate) it and pay the renewal fees to keep it in force in each country in which the applicant seeks protection. The objective of this paper is to assess to what extent validation and renewal fees as well as translation costs affect the validation behavior of applicants. We rely on a gravity model that aims at explaining patent flows between inventor and target countries within the European patent system. The results show that the size of countries, their wealth and the distance between their capital cities are significant determinants of patent flows. Validation fees and renewal fees further affect the validation behavior of applicants. Translation costs seem to have an impact as well. The important role played by fees suggests that the implementation of cost-reducing policy interventions like the London Protocol would induce a significant increase in the number of patents validated in each European country.

• Dokumententyp: Paper
• Publikationsform: Submitted Version
• Keywords: patent fees, validation fees, renewal fees, gravity model
• Fakultät: Betriebswirtschaft ; Betriebswirtschaft > Diskussionsbeiträge ; Betriebswirtschaft > Diskussionsbeiträge > Innovation Research
• Themengebiete: 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 300 Sozialwissenschaft, Soziologie ; 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 330 Wirtschaft
• JEL Classification: O30, O31, O38, O57
• Sprache: Englisch