專利主張實體、專利訴訟及創新策略之研究

Abstract

專利主張實體（Patent Assist Entities，PAEs），亦被稱為專利流氓，此種實體透過向其他公司或發明人購買專利以積累專利組合，但不對該專利進行後續技術開發或商業化，其目的在於針對潛在專利侵權者提起侵權訴訟，以獲取侵權賠償或其他金錢利益。專利主張實體在過去十年中已成為專利訴訟的主要參與者，但其對公司研發創新活動的影響仍存在爭議。本研究旨在探討專利主張實體發起的專利訴訟將如何影響公司的創新戰略。本研究以差異中的差異估計法證明了專利主張實體發起的專利訴訟將不利於創新活動，因為它阻礙了公司間的技術合作與知識交流。具體而言，我發現被專利主張實體所針對的公司將轉向內向型創新戰略，亦即，這些公司在未來從事研發創新的過程中將更依賴內部技術，而那些處於相關技術領域的同業公司也將採取預防性舉措，透過重組其技術軌跡以減少自身被專利主張實體提告之風險。專利主張實體將對承受更高創新成本或處於激烈競爭市場中的公司帶來更嚴峻的影響。此外，本研究亦發現，反專利流氓法會為公司提供有效的相應保護，這一證據支持了政府在專利主張實體監管和專利制度完善方面的努力。

Patent assertion entities (PAEs), also known as patent trolls, are the entities that usually do not engage in technology development and commercialization, but acquire and accumulate patents from other companies or inventors to reap the monetary profits from the patent infringement lawsuits filed against potential infringers. PAEs have become a major player in patent litigation over the past decade, but remain controversial over their role in innovation activities. This study focuses on how the PAE-initiated patent litigation could affect firms’ innovation strategies. I demonstrate that PAE-initiated patent litigation is detrimental to innovation activities as it deters technology collaboration and knowledge exchange. Specifically, I find that a firm targeted by PAEs would shift to an inward-oriented innovation strategy that relies more on in-house technologies, and that peer firms in the related technology areas would take preemptive moves that reorganize their technology locus so as to reduce the PAE risks. Higher innovation cost and more intensive product market competition would exacerbate the effect. Furthermore, I show that the legislation of anti-patent troll laws is providing corresponding protection to firms, which support the government’s efforts on PAE regulation and patent system improvement.