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Specialization, Centralization, and the Distribution of Patent Intermediaries in the USA and Japan

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  • Tim Reiffenstein

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Reiffenstein T. Specialization, centralization, and the distribution of patent intermediaries in the USA and Japan, Regional Studies. The preparation, examination and litigation of patents requires a complex division of labour. The inventors and firms that generate patents have been well covered in the geographical literature, but the same cannot be said of the producer services whose job it is to shepherd patents through patent offices and the courts. This paper explores the spatial distribution of patent intermediaries (agents and attorneys) in the USA and Japan with a view to shedding light on how the institutional architecture of national patent systems shapes the geographies of patent practitioners. This comparison reveals important differences in their locational preferences at several scales of analysis. US patent intermediation is geographically decentralized and practised in conjunction with other facets of business law, while in Japan the situation is far more specialized and concentrated in Tokyo. [image omitted] Reiffenstein T. Specialisation, centralisation et repartition des intermediaires en brevets aux Etats-Unis et au Japon, Regional Studies. La preparation, l'examen et les litiges en matiere de brevets exigent une division complexe de travail. Les inventeurs et les entreprises qui deposent des brevets ont fait l'objet de nombreux articles dans la litterature geographique mais on ne peut pas en dire autant des services de production dont le travail est de guider les brevets a travers les bureaux de brevets et les tribunaux. Cet article analyse la repartition geographique des intermediaires en brevets (agents et avocats) aux Etats-Unis et au Japon afin de faire la lumiere et d'expliquer comment l'architecture institutionnelle des systemes nationaux de brevets dessine la carte de la repartition des praticiens en brevets. Cette comparaison fait apparaitre des differences importantes en ce qui concerne les preferences geographiques a plusieurs echelles de l'analyse. Aux Etats-Unis, les intermediaires en brevets sont decentralises sur le plan geographique et travaillent conjointement avec d'autres secteurs du droit des affaires alors qu'au Japon la situation est beaucoup plus specialisee et concentree a Tokyo. Intermediaires en brevets Systemes nationaux d'innovation Etats-Unis Japon Reiffenstein T. Spezialisierung, Zentralisierung und Verteilung von Patentdienstleistern in den USA und in Japan, Regional Studies. Fur die Vorbereitung, Prufung und Einklagung von Patenten ist eine komplexe Arbeitsteilung erforderlich. Die Erfinder und Unternehmen, die Patente entwickeln, wurden in der geografischen Literatur bereits ausfuhrlich behandelt. Dasselbe lasst sich hingegen nicht von den Dienstleistern sagen, die die Patente durch Patentamter und Gerichte leiten. In diesem Beitrag wird die raumliche Verteilung von Patentdienstleistern (Vertretern und Anwalten) in den USA und Japan untersucht, um festzustellen, wie sich die institutionelle Architektur der nationalen Patentsysteme auf die Geografien der Patentdienstleister auswirkt. Bei diesem Vergleich zeigen sich auf mehreren Analyseebenen wichtige Unterschiede hinsichtlich der Standortpraferenzen. In den USA sind Patentdienstleistungen geografisch dezentralisiert und werden gemeinsam mit anderen Facetten des Wirtschaftsrechts praktiziert. In Japan ist die Situation weitaus spezialisierter und auf Tokio konzentriert. Patentdienstleister Nationale Innovationssysteme USA Japan Reiffenstein T. Especializacion, centralizacion y distribucion de intermediarios de patentes en los Estados Unidos y Japon, Regional Studies. Para la preparacion, el examen y la litigacion de patentes es necesaria una compleja division del trabajo. Los inventores y las empresas que generan patentes han sido abarcados con profusion en la literatura geografica pero no se puede decir lo mismo de los servicios de los productores cuya tarea es dirigir las patentes a traves de las oficinas de patentes y los tribunales. En este articulo analizo la distribucion espacial de los intermediarios de patentes (agentes y abogados) en los Estados Unidos y Japon con el proposito de determinar como repercute la arquitectura institucional del sistema nacional de patentes en las geografias de los profesionales de patentes. Con esta comparacion se muestran unas diferencias importantes en cuanto a las preferencias de lugar en las diferentes escalas del analisis. La intermediacion de patentes en los Estados Unidos esta geograficamente descentralizada y se practica junto con otras facetas del derecho mercantil, mientras que en Japon la situacion esta mucho mas especializada y concentrada en Tokio. Intermediarios de patentes Sistemas de innovacion nacional Estados Unidos Japon

Suggested Citation

  • Tim Reiffenstein, 2009. "Specialization, Centralization, and the Distribution of Patent Intermediaries in the USA and Japan," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(4), pages 571-588.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:43:y:2009:i:4:p:571-588
    DOI: 10.1080/00343400701874255
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    1. Keith E. Maskus, 2006. "Reforming U.S. Patent Policy: Getting the Incentives Right," Innovations: Technology, Governance, Globalization, MIT Press, vol. 1(4), pages 127-153, October.
    2. Markusen, Ann & Hall, Peter & Campbell, Scott & Deitrick, Sabina, 1991. "The Rise of the Gunbelt: The Military Remapping of Industrial America," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195066487.
    3. Girouard, Robert J., 1996. "U.S. Trade Policy and the Japanese Patent System," UCAIS Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy, Working Paper Series qt3107d3jv, UCAIS Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy, UC Berkeley.
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    1. Jörn Block & Christian Fisch & Kenta Ikeuchi & Masatoshi Kato, 2022. "Trademarks as an indicator of regional innovation: evidence from Japanese prefectures," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(2), pages 190-209, February.
    2. Krzysztof Klincewicz & Szymon Szumiał, 2022. "Successful patenting—not only how, but with whom: the importance of patent attorneys," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(9), pages 5111-5137, September.
    3. Heikkilä, Jussi T.S. & Peltoniemi, Mirva, 2023. "The changing work of IPR attorneys: 30 years of institutional transitions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    4. Gaétan De Rassenfosse & Paul H. Jensen & T'Mir Julius & Alfons Palangkaraya & Elizabeth Webster, 2023. "Is the Patent System an Even Playing Field? The Effect of Patent Attorney Firms," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 71(1), pages 124-142, March.
    5. Peter J. Taylor & Ben Derudder & James Faulconbridge & Michael Hoyler & Pengfei Ni, 2014. "Advanced Producer Service Firms as Strategic Networks, Global Cities as Strategic Places," Economic Geography, Clark University, vol. 90(3), pages 267-291, July.

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