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Patent--Secret Mix in Complex Product Firms

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  • Elisabetta Ottoz
  • Franco Cugno

Abstract

Different protection mechanisms may be employed at the same time when an innovation is comprised of separately protectable components. If patents and trade secrets can be mixed in protecting single innovations, a strengthening in patent breadth may induce a lower level of patenting, as innovators are more prone to rely on secrecy. Copyright 2008, Oxford University Press.

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  • Elisabetta Ottoz & Franco Cugno, 2008. "Patent--Secret Mix in Complex Product Firms," American Law and Economics Review, American Law and Economics Association, vol. 10(1), pages 142-158.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:amlawe:v:10:y:2008:i:1:p:142-158
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Matthieu Mandard, 2013. "Profiting from collaborative innovation: R&D alliances and technological assets protection mechanisms [Profiter de l'innovation collaborative : alliances de R&D et mécanismes de protection des acti," Post-Print halshs-00846071, HAL.
    2. Ottoz, Elisabetta & Cugno, Franco, 2011. "Choosing the scope of trade secret law when secrets complement patents," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 219-227.
    3. Crass, Dirk & Garcia Valero, Francisco & Pitton, Francesco & Rammer, Christian, 2016. "Protecting innovation through patents and trade secrets: Determinants and performance impacts for firms with a single innovation," ZEW Discussion Papers 16-061, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    4. Jürgen Mihm & Fabian J. Sting & Tan Wang, 2015. "On the Effectiveness of Patenting Strategies in Innovation Races," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 61(11), pages 2662-2684, November.
    5. Sim, Kyoungbo, 2021. "Optimal use of patents and trade secrets for complex innovations," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    6. Jonathan F. Lee, 2017. "Measuring Innovation with Patents when Patenting is Strategic," 2017 Papers ple823, Job Market Papers.
    7. Ottoz Elisabetta & Cugno Franco, 2009. "Hybrid Licensing of Product Innovations," Review of Law & Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 5(1), pages 579-594, October.
    8. Crass, Dirk & Valero, Francisco Garcia & Pitton, Francesco & Rammer, Christian, 2019. "Protecting Innovation Through Patents and Trade Secrets: Evidence for Firms with a Single Innovation," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 26(1), pages 117-156.
    9. Hermans, Ben & Leus, Roel & Looy, Bart Van, 2023. "Deciding on scheduling, secrecy, and patenting during the new product development process: The relevance of project planning models," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    10. Keishun Suzuki, 2015. "Economic growth under two forms of intellectual property rights protection: patents and trade secrets," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 115(1), pages 49-71, May.
    11. Dai, Yanke & Du, Ting & Gao, Huasheng & Gu, Yan & Wang, Yongqin, 2024. "Patent pledgeability, trade secrecy, and corporate patenting," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).

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