Patent Pools: A Practical Perspective - Part I

Abstract

In the patent law field, ‘pooling’ is defined as the practice by two or more parties to license their patents as a bundle. ‘Patent pools’ are not a new concept. Registers of them date back to the 19th century, whereas prominent pools emerged for the automobile and aircraft industries in the early 20th century. Numerous patent pools have been formed since, evolving over the years on the way they operate. Nonetheless, despite being in the market for such a long time, pools continue to be closely monitored by regulators, academia, and industry, mainly due to their potential (positive and negative) impact on competition.

Keywords: patent pools, practical perspective, regulators, academia, industry, competition