The Choice between Formal and Informal Intellectual Property: A Literature Review

64 Pages Posted: 7 Apr 2012 Last revised: 20 Feb 2022

See all articles by Bronwyn H. Hall

Bronwyn H. Hall

University of California at Berkeley; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS); Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition

Christian Helmers

Santa Clara University - Leavey School of Business; Charles III University of Madrid

Mark Rogers

University of Oxford, Harris Manchester College; Aston University - Aston Business School

Vania Sena

Independent

Date Written: April 2012

Abstract

We survey the economic literature, both theoretical and empirical, on the choice of intellectual property protection by firms. Our focus is on the tradeoffs between using patents and disclosing versus the use of secrecy, although we also look briefly at the use of other means of formal intellectual property protection.

Suggested Citation

Hall, Bronwyn H. and Helmers, Christian and Helmers, Christian and Rogers, Mark Llewellyn and Sena, Vania, The Choice between Formal and Informal Intellectual Property: A Literature Review (April 2012). NBER Working Paper No. w17983, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2035782

Bronwyn H. Hall (Contact Author)

University of California at Berkeley ( email )

549 Evans Hall #3880
Berkeley, CA 94720-3880
United States

HOME PAGE: http://emlab.berkeley.edu/users/bhhall/index.html

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)

7 Ridgmount Street
London, WC1E 7AE
United Kingdom

Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition

Marstallplatz 1
Munich, Bayern 80539
Germany

Christian Helmers

Santa Clara University - Leavey School of Business ( email )

500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA California 95053
United States

Charles III University of Madrid ( email )

CL. de Madrid 126
Madrid, Madrid 28903
Spain

Mark Llewellyn Rogers

University of Oxford, Harris Manchester College ( email )

Manor Road Building
Manor Road
Oxford, OX1 3BJ
United Kingdom

Aston University - Aston Business School ( email )

Aston Triangle
Birmingham, B47ET
United Kingdom

Vania Sena

Independent

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