How to Measure Patent Thickets: A Novel Approach
9 Pages Posted: 14 Jul 2009
Date Written: June 14, 2009
Abstract
The existing literature identifies patent thickets indirectly. In this paper we propose a novel measure based on patent citations which allows us to measure the density of patent thickets directly. We discuss the algorithm which generates the measure and present descriptive results validating it. Moreover, we identify technology areas which are particularly impacted by patent thickets.
Keywords: patenting, patent thickets, patent portfolio races, complexity
JEL Classification: L13, L20, O34
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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