nep-ipr New Economics Papers
on Intellectual Property Rights
Issue of 2015‒02‒16
three papers chosen by
Giovanni Ramello
Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”

  1. Individual versus institutional ownership of university-discovered inventions By Czarnitzki, Dirk; Doherr, Thorsten; Hussinger, Katrin; Schliessler, Paula; Toole, Andrew A.
  2. The impact of one of the most highly cited university patents: formalisation and localization By Azagra-Caro,Joaquín M.; Barberá-Tomás,David; Edwards-Schachter,Mónica
  3. R&D, Patenting and Market Regulation: Evidence from EU Electricity industry By Carlo Cambini; Federico Caviggioli; Giuseppe Scellato

  1. By: Czarnitzki, Dirk; Doherr, Thorsten; Hussinger, Katrin; Schliessler, Paula; Toole, Andrew A.
    Abstract: We examine how the ownership of intellectual property rights influences patenting of university-discovered inventions. In 2002, Germany transferred patent rights from faculty members to their universities. To identify the effect on the volume of patenting, we exploit the researcher-level exogeneity of the 2002 policy change using a novel researcher-level panel database that includes a control group not affected by the law change. For professors who had existing industry connections, the policy decreased patenting, but for those without prior industry connections, it increased patenting. Overall, fewer university inventions were patented following the shift from inventor to institutional ownership.
    Keywords: intellectual property,patents,technology transfer,policy evaluation
    JEL: O38
    Date: 2015
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:zewdip:15007&r=ipr
  2. By: Azagra-Caro,Joaquín M.; Barberá-Tomás,David; Edwards-Schachter,Mónica
    Abstract: This paper examines the underlying mechanisms of knowledge diffusion and interrelationships between formal and informal channels attending to the localisation of spillovers between university and industry. With this aim we present a historical in-depth case study centred in one of the most highly cited university patents, developing and applying a theoretical approach that combines formalisation and localisation analytical dimensions. Our findings show how knowledge diffused through channels with different degrees of formalization (patent licenses, “pure” spillovers and consultancy contracts with the inventors). The case also evidences the pervasive delocalization of several knowledge diffusion channels and the complexity of achieving local impact, even at a privileged environment like California. The crucial diffusion mechanism channel stemmed from bidirectional knowledge flows between the university and a non-regional company, which provided the university with the specific fabrication capabilities needed to create an open-lab programme, which ultimately achieved local impact.
    Keywords: Knowledge flows, Academic patenting, Technology transfer, Geographic R&D spillovers
    JEL: O31 O34
    Date: 2015–01–30
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ing:wpaper:201502&r=ipr
  3. By: Carlo Cambini; Federico Caviggioli; Giuseppe Scellato
    Abstract: In this paper we study the effects of the changes in the level of product market regulation on the industry-level innovation intensity in the Electricity sector across 16 European countries during years 1990-2009. We matched data on R&D budgets and EPO patent applications from IEA and Eurostat Databases and indexes of market regulation conditions from OECD, in order to test the impact of deregulatory policies on the propensity to innovate in new energy technologies. Our findings indicate an increase in the aggregated Electricity R&D and in patenting activities following market deregulation. Our measure of market regulation intensity is based on the aggregation of three factors that capture respectively entry barriers, public ownership and vertical integration. Econometric results suggest that policies aimed at a reduction in vertical integration have a positive impact on both industry-level R&D and patenting. The reduction of public ownership of incumbent operators and entry barriers are mostly associated to a significant increase in R&D expenditures. In the paper we discuss the implication of this evidence in light of the current trend in investment in the electricity sector in Europe.
    Keywords: Innovation, Patents, Regulation, Electricity.
    JEL: L94
    Date: 2015
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bcu:iefewp:iefewp78&r=ipr

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