Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Abstract

In this paper, we study the determinants of patent quality and volume of patent applications when inventors care about perceived patent quality. We analyze the effects of various policy reforms, specifically, a proposal to establish a two-tiered patent system. In the two-tiered system, applicants can choose between a regular patent and a more costly, possibly more thoroughly examined, 'gold-plate' patent. Introducing a second patent-tier can reduce patent applications, reduce the incidence of bad patents, and sometimes increase social welfare. The gold-plate tier attracts inventors with high ex-ante probability of validity, but not necessarily applicants with innovations of high economic value.

DOI

10.1111/joie.12055

Published Citation

Atal, V., & Bar, T. (2014). Patent quality and a two‐tiered patent system. The Journal of Industrial Economics, 62(3), 503-540.

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Finance Commons

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