TY - UNPB ID - eprints98 N1 - JEL codes: K40, O31, O34. EP - 47 KW - Collusion KW - Patent Challenge KW - Patent Quality. A1 - Chiou, Jing-Yuan M1 - working_paper AV - public Y1 - 2009/07// N2 - This paper proposes a patent challenge mechanism with partial patent rights previously granted to the patent-holder as the challenge reward. Transferring patent rights to a successful challenger raises the incentive to search for patent-defeating prior art, and, after the discovery of the information, helps deter collusion between the patent-holder and the challenger. It also reduces costly opportunistic patenting and therefore improves patent application quality. However, from an ex post point of view, over-search ensues when the collusion problem is severe. The optimal re-allocation of patent rights, then, calls for a careful balance between these costs and benefits. TI - The Design of Post-Grant Patent Challenges UR - http://eprints.imtlucca.it/98/ ER -