Subject(s)
Technology, R&D management
Keyword(s)
patenting, patent thickets, patent portfolio races, complexity
JEL Code(s)
L13, L20, O34
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.
With permission of Elsevier
Volume
111
Journal Pages
6–9