The choice between formal and informal intellectual property: A review

B.H. Hall; C. Helmers; M. Rogers; V. Sena

doi:10.1257/jel.52.2.375

The choice between formal and informal intellectual property: A review

B.H. Hall^*, C. Helmers, M. Rogers, V. Sena

^*Corresponding author for this work

Macro, International & Labour Economics

Research output: Contribution to journal › (Systematic) Review article › peer-review

Abstract

We survey the economic literature, both theoretical and empirical, on the choice of intellectual property protection by firms. Our focus is on the trade-offs between using patents and disclosing versus the use of secrecy, although we also look briefly at the use of other means of formal intellectual property protection.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	375-423
Number of pages	49
Journal	Journal of Economic Literature
Volume	52
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.52.2.375
Publication status	Published - Jun 2014

Keywords

RESEARCH-AND-DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIC DISCLOSURE
COPYRIGHT PROTECTION
TECHNOLOGICAL-CHANGE
EMPIRICAL-ANALYSIS
RIGHTS PROTECTION
PATENT STATISTICS
PUBLIC DOMAIN
WORLDS-FAIRS
LIFE-CYCLE

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Cite this

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title = "The choice between formal and informal intellectual property: A review",

abstract = "We survey the economic literature, both theoretical and empirical, on the choice of intellectual property protection by firms. Our focus is on the trade-offs between using patents and disclosing versus the use of secrecy, although we also look briefly at the use of other means of formal intellectual property protection.",

keywords = "RESEARCH-AND-DEVELOPMENT, STRATEGIC DISCLOSURE, COPYRIGHT PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGICAL-CHANGE, EMPIRICAL-ANALYSIS, RIGHTS PROTECTION, PATENT STATISTICS, PUBLIC DOMAIN, WORLDS-FAIRS, LIFE-CYCLE",

author = "B.H. Hall and C. Helmers and M. Rogers and V. Sena",

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AU - Helmers, C.

AU - Rogers, M.

AU - Sena, V.

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KW - STRATEGIC DISCLOSURE

KW - COPYRIGHT PROTECTION

KW - TECHNOLOGICAL-CHANGE

KW - EMPIRICAL-ANALYSIS

KW - RIGHTS PROTECTION

KW - PATENT STATISTICS

KW - PUBLIC DOMAIN

KW - WORLDS-FAIRS

KW - LIFE-CYCLE

U2 - 10.1257/jel.52.2.375

DO - 10.1257/jel.52.2.375

M3 - (Systematic) Review article

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JO - Journal of Economic Literature

JF - Journal of Economic Literature

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