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In-text patent citations: A user's guide

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  • Bryan, Kevin A.
  • Ozcan, Yasin
  • Sampat, Bhaven

Abstract

We introduce, validate, and make publicly available a new data source for innovation research: scientific references in patent specifications. These references are common and algorithmically extractable. Critically, they are very different from the “front page” prior art commonly used to proxy for inventor knowledge. Only 24% of front page citations to academic articles are in the patent text, and 31% of in-text citations are on the front page. We explain these differences by describing the legal rules and practice governing citation. Empirical validations suggest that in-text citations are qualitatively different. Further, there is suggestive evidence that they more accurately proxy for knowledge flows, consistent with their legal role.

Suggested Citation

  • Bryan, Kevin A. & Ozcan, Yasin & Sampat, Bhaven, 2020. "In-text patent citations: A user's guide," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(4).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:49:y:2020:i:4:s0048733320300263
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2020.103946
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    1. Verluise, Cyril & Cristelli, Gabriele & Higham, Kyle & de Rassenfosse, Gaetan, 2020. "The Missing 15 Percent of Patent Citations," SocArXiv x78ys, Center for Open Science.
    2. Higham, Kyle & de Rassenfosse, Gaétan & Jaffe, Adam B., 2021. "Patent Quality: Towards a Systematic Framework for Analysis and Measurement," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(4).
    3. Choi, Jaewoong & Yoon, Janghyeok, 2022. "Measuring knowledge exploration distance at the patent level: Application of network embedding and citation analysis," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 16(2).
    4. Sijie Feng, 2020. "The proximity of ideas: An analysis of patent text using machine learning," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-19, July.
    5. Kevin A. Bryan & Heidi L. Williams, 2021. "Innovation: Market Failures and Public Policies," NBER Working Papers 29173, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Xiaojun Hu & Ronald Rousseau & Sandra Rousseau, 2019. "Does Environmental Economics lead to patentable research?," Papers 1905.02875, arXiv.org.
    7. Font-Julián, Cristina I & Ontalba-Ruipérez, José-Antonio & Orduña-Malea, Enrique & Thelwall, Mike, 2022. "Which types of online resource support US patent claims?," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 16(1).
    8. Daniel P. Gross & Bhaven N. Sampat, 2023. "America, Jump-Started: World War II R&D and the Takeoff of the US Innovation System," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 113(12), pages 3323-3356, December.
    9. Matt Marx & Aaron Fuegi, 2020. "Reliance on science: Worldwide front‐page patent citations to scientific articles," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(9), pages 1572-1594, September.
    10. Ashish Arora & Sharon Belenzon & Jungkyu Suh, 2022. "Science and the Market for Technology," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(10), pages 7176-7201, October.
    11. Ribeiro, Barbara & Shapira, Philip, 2020. "Private and public values of innovation: A patent analysis of synthetic biology," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(1).
    12. Wifo, 2020. "WIFO-Monatsberichte, Heft 9/2020," WIFO Monatsberichte (monthly reports), WIFO, vol. 93(9), September.

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    JEL classification:

    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights

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