Duration of Patent Protection: Does One Size Fit All?
U of Melbourne Legal Studies Research Paper No. 245
Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia Working Paper No. 04.07
23 Pages Posted: 11 Sep 2007
Abstract
The patent system has a 'one size' approach to duration of protection, in that all inventions are entitled to the same maximum period of grant: 20 years. This paper seeks to answer the question whether this 'one size' approach 'fits all' inventions. It does so by determining if the duration of protection is within the reasonable bounds of what might be considered optimal, when account is taken of the economic theory on duration, patentees' practices regarding renewal of their patents and the legal features of the current system. It finds that the system on duration of patent protection currently in operation matches closely to what would be considered optimal.
Keywords: patent, protection, duration
JEL Classification: K11
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
