Patent use, Technology Licensing and IP management in UK firms

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In this proposal we aim to work with our partner the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to gather evidence on the extent of recourse to patent protection in the UK economy, the use of patents by firms and on the strategies being used by firms to manage their IP and circumvent the problems caused by overlapping patent rights or 'patent thickets'. We bring new academic thinking on these issues (in the US and UK) to bear on a small scale survey where the user community is involved in generating and gathering the data needed by them. By doing this we will be able to plug important evidentiary gaps about the recourse to patenting for innovative firms and also the use of patents though licensing and cross-licensing in the UK-wide economy. In addition a detailed survey of UK IP management practices based on similar surveys conducted in the US will enable a deeper understanding of the patent thicket question as well the measures UK firms are taking to gain 'freedom to operate'. We expect that this understanding of IP management practices will be a valuable input in IPOs training programs to raise awareness in small and medium firms and can also inform IP policy in the UK.