A BEJEAP Topics article.

Abstract

As patent applications increase, and the range of patentable technologies increases, the length of time it takes for an invention to go through the examination process at the U.S. Patent Office has increased. Concerns over the distributional effects of these changes have been expressed during policy debates. We use data on U.S. patent applications and grants to ask who is affected by longer grant lags. We augment this analysis with interviews of patent examiners, leading to a better understanding of the examination process. Our analysis finds that differences across technology are most important. These differences do not erode over time, suggesting that learning effects alone will not reduce grant lags. Inventor characteristics have statistically significant effects, but the magnitudes are small.

Submitted: June 15, 2004 · Accepted: October 26, 2004 · Published: November 4, 2004

Originally published in Topics in Economic Analysis & Policy.

Recommended Citation

Popp, David; Juhl, Ted; and Johnson, Daniel K.N. (2004) "Time In Purgatory: Examining the Grant Lag for U.S. Patent Applications," Topics in Economic Analysis & Policy: Vol. 4 : Iss. 1, Article 29.
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/bejeap/topics/vol4/iss1/art29