The Transfer of Patents in Imperial Germany

Abstract

We describe the transfer of patents in late 19th- and early 20th- century Germany using a new and comprehensive database containing information on about 20,000 transactions. The number of transactions shows an upward trend, in total numbers and as a share of patents in force. In total, about eight percent of patents were transferred at least once during their existence. Many transactions involved the transfer of patents with an above-average quality from individual inventors to firms and to newly-created – ‘entrepreneurial’ – firms. In addition, valuable patents were transferred between firms. About two-thirds of all transfers occurred during the first three years of a patents’ existence, giving the new owner potentially a long period of patent protection.

Keywords: Economic history, Germany, Patents, pre-1913, Technology transfer

JEL Classification: N73, O34