Intellectual Property

Patents

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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22nd Annual Berkeley-Stanford Advanced Patent Law Institute

Hosted by the Berkeley Center For Law & Technology

December 9, 2021,  

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TAP Academics

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TAP Blog

Northwestern Professor Daniel Spulber Makes a Case for Patents

The Case for Patents, a new book by Northwestern University business and law professor Daniel Spulber, emphasizes the importance of incentives for invention, innovation, and technology adoption.

TAP Staff Blogger

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Fact Sheets

Software Patents

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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Quote

Changing U.S. Patent Policy on Tech Standards Stirs Concerns

"The best way to resolve this issue is not to change policy approaches." — Mark Lemley, Professor of Law, Stanford University

Mark Lemley
Bloomberg Law
December 26, 2018

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Featured Article

Antitrust Policy Toward Patent Licensing: Why Negotiation Matters

Some are concerned that patents for complex innovations give rise to problems such as royalty stacking or patent thickets. However, empirical data shows that patent pools and negotiation of patent licenses tend to eliminate these concerns.

By: Daniel Spulber

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