We investigate statistically the characteristics, functioning and incidence of pre-emptive patenting,
defined as patent filings whose main effect is to hamper the grant of other patents. Patent applications can
be used to prevent the grant of exclusive rights on markets and technologies to others in order to ensure
freedom of operation to their holder or keep patent-less competitors out of the market. Combining data
from examination outcomes and prior art at the European Patent Office (EPO), we develop a methodology
to identify pre-emptive patent applications. We find evidence of pre-emption associated to patent
applications cited as compromising patentability while being deemed non inventive. Furthermore, amongst
them, those which are withdrawn by the applicant have the strongest pre-emptive power. The coincidence
of low inventiveness and high pre-emptive impact supports the idea that some of these patents may be
strategically designed by their applicants to block patenting by others.
Pre-Emptive Patenting
Securing Market Exclusion and Freedom of Operation
Working paper
OECD Science, Technology and Industry Working Papers
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