eprintid: 101
rev_number: 18
eprint_status: archive
userid: 15
dir: disk0/00/00/01/01
datestamp: 2011-02-25 09:30:03
lastmod: 2011-07-11 14:00:42
status_changed: 2011-02-25 09:30:03
type: monograph
metadata_visibility: show
contact_email: jy.chiou@imtlucca.it
item_issues_count: 0
creators_name: Chiou, Jing-Yuan
creators_id: jy.chiou@imtlucca.it
title: Understanding the Doctrine of Patentable Subject
Matter
ispublished: unpub
subjects: HB
subjects: K1
divisions: EIC
full_text_status: public
monograph_type: working_paper
keywords: Cumulative Innovation, Patentable Subject Matter, Probabilistic Patents,
Search.

note: JEL codes: K39, O31, O34.
abstract: The doctrine of patentable subject matter precludes basic inventions such as abstract
ideas and laws of nature from patent protection. However, current economic
thinking of the patent systemstresses the necessity of rewarding pioneering inventors
in the cumulative innovation process. In a two-stage innovation modelwhere the first
stage invention (basic invention) has no stand-alone value and the pioneer can also
participate in the second stage, I show that patent protection to the basic invention
may increase rather than hamper the second stage performance. Rejecting patents
on the basic invention can promote technology progress when the pioneer has high
capacity, but the follower has low capacity to engage in the second stage innovation.

date: 2010-04
pages: 29
institution: IMT Institute for Advanced Studies, Lucca
citation:   Chiou, Jing-Yuan  Understanding the Doctrine of Patentable Subject Matter.  Working Paper       (Unpublished)   
document_url: http://eprints.imtlucca.it/101/1/chiou2010c.pdf