專利訴訟與創新

Abstract

本研究探討專利訴訟與創新之間的關係，以及由專利授權公司 (non-practicing entity, NPE)提起的訴訟如何影響生產公司的創新流程。在建構兩造關係的過程中，筆者收集以11筆「常見爭訟專利」為系爭專利，並於西元2000年至2012年間提出的所有案件。「常見爭訟專利」係由美國Stanford大學智慧財產權訴訟相關資料庫 (Stanford Intellectual Property Litigation Clearinghouse, IPLC)整理而成。而後筆者將前述案件和由美國專利及商標局 (United States Patent and Trademark Office, USPTO)、全球專利資訊網 (WEBPAT)，以及Compustat所取得的數據相結合，建立本研究的樣本。本研究的實證結果顯示：專利訴訟長期有助於促使生產公司改善其創新流程；若原告為專利授權公司，此等效果較為顯著。由此觀之，政府應保障專利授權公司的專利所有權，藉以增進創新，提升企業研發動能。

This study looks into the relationship between patent litigation and innovation; in addition, how litigation initiated by non-practicing entities (NPEs) impacts on product companies’ innovation process is also discussed. In order to construct the plausible relation between the two, I collect cases related to the 11 Most-Litigated Patents listed by Stanford Intellectual Property Litigation Clearinghouse (IPLC), covering the period from year 2000 to 2012. Thereafter, I create my sample by matching these cases with data from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), WEBPAT and Compustat. The empirical results of this research suggest that litigation can benefit product companies in terms of innovation, improving the overall innovation process. If the plaintiff is an NPE, the effect is greater. Protecting NPE-owned patents, therefore, can increase innovation and improve social welfare.