Abstract
Despite the wide use of two-tiered patent systems (patents and utility
models (UMs)), there is little empirical evidence about how often UMs
are actually used, what kind of firms use them to protect their
intellectual property, and how firms rank them relative to patents. We
offer such an analysis using data from Germany. We find that larger
firms are more likely to use both protection methods. Moreover, a short
life cycle of products and services is associated with an increased
likelihood to use UMs. The features and functioning of the German UM
system are of broader interest because it has been a benchmark for
several second tier patent protection systems around the world.
models (UMs)), there is little empirical evidence about how often UMs
are actually used, what kind of firms use them to protect their
intellectual property, and how firms rank them relative to patents. We
offer such an analysis using data from Germany. We find that larger
firms are more likely to use both protection methods. Moreover, a short
life cycle of products and services is associated with an increased
likelihood to use UMs. The features and functioning of the German UM
system are of broader interest because it has been a benchmark for
several second tier patent protection systems around the world.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 80-105 |
| Number of pages | 26 |
| Journal | Economics of Innovation and New Technology |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Patent
- utility model
- two-tiered patent system
- intellectual property strategy
- Germany