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Patent inflation in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Nicolas van Zeebroeck
  • Bruno Van Pottelsberghe
  • Niels Stevnsborg
  • Dominique Guellec
  • Eugenio Archontopoulos

Abstract

Patent filings worldwide have been subject to a combined growth in terms of the number of applications filed and their size. This is putting patent systems under tremendous pressure, as witnessed by the evolution of backlogs at several patent offices. The present article presents an analysis of the evolution in patent voluminosity observed at the European Patent Office (EPO) over the past two decades. The results demonstrate that the average size of applications has doubled during this period and that the largest influence comes from applications filed via the PCT route and/or with a US priority application. Voluminosity indicators are clearly influenced by geographical origins and technological areas. The increasing voluminosity has a significant impact on EPO workload and processing efficiency. There is therefore a justified need for regulatory action. Evidence from recent changes in US patent fee policy is shown to have a significant knock-off effect on voluminosity indicators. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas van Zeebroeck & Bruno Van Pottelsberghe & Niels Stevnsborg & Dominique Guellec & Eugenio Archontopoulos, 2008. "Patent inflation in Europe," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/6389, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    • Handle: RePEc:ulb:ulbeco:2013/6389
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    Cited by:

    1. Bruno van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie, 2011. "The quality factor in patent systems," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 20(6), pages 1755-1793, December.
    2. van Zeebroeck, Nicolas & van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie, Bruno & Guellec, Dominique, 2009. "Claiming more: the Increased Voluminosity of Patent Applications and its Determinants," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 1006-1020, July.
    3. Walsh, John P. & Lee, You-Na & Jung, Taehyun, 2016. "Win, lose or draw? The fate of patented inventions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(7), pages 1362-1373.
    4. Frietsch, Rainer & Schmoch, Ulrich & Van Looy, Baart & Walsh, J. P. & Devroede, R. & Du Plessis, M. & Jung, T. & Meng, Y. & Neuhäusler, Peter & Peeters, B. & Schubert, T., 2010. "The value and indicator function of patents," Studien zum deutschen Innovationssystem 15-2010, Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI) - Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation, Berlin.
    5. Chen, Wei & Yan, Yan, 2023. "New components and combinations: The perspective of the internal collaboration networks of scientific teams," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 17(2).
    6. Geomina Turlea & Sven Lindmark & Lucio Picci & Andrea de Panizza & Martin Ulbrich & Paul Desruelle & Marc Bogdanowicz & David Broster, 2009. "The 2009 Report on R&D in ICT in the European Union," JRC Research Reports JRC49951, Joint Research Centre.

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