A patent provides protection for an invention to the owner of the patent. The protection is granted for a limited period, generally 20 years. Patent protection means that the invention cannot be commercially made, used, distributed or sold without the patent owner's consent.
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TAP Blog
Stanford economist Heidi Williams investigates how US patent allowances affect firm performance and worker pay. Beyond simply raising average earnings, she finds that patents exacerbate within-firm inequality.
August 2, 2019
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Fact Sheets
A patent provides an exclusive legal right to an invention for a limited period of time, in exchange for public disclosure of that innovation. As with other property rights, patents may be sold, transferred, or licensed for a third party’s use.
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"The best way to resolve this issue is not to change policy approaches." — Mark Lemley, Professor of Law, Stanford University
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Featured Article
We study how the market for innovation affects enforcement of patent rights.
January 22, 2013
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