Work

Do patents enable disclosure? Evidence from the invention secrecy act

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: This paper provides empirical evidence suggesting that patents may facilitate knowledge disclosure. The analysis exploits the Invention Secrecy Act, which grants the U.S. Commissioner for Patents the right to prevent the disclosure of new inventions that represent a threat to national security. Using a two-level matching approach, we document a negative and large relationship between the enforcement of a secrecy order and follow-on inventions, as captured with patent citations and text-based measures of invention similarity. The effect carries over to after the lift of the secrecy period, suggesting a lost generation of inventions. The results bear implications for innovation and intellectual property policy.

Source: International Journal of Industrial Organization

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijindorg.2023.103044

Authors: Gaétan de Rassenfosse, Gabriele Pellegrino, Emilio Raiteri

Institutions: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Eindhoven University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Intellectual Property and Patents

Subfield: Management of Technology and Innovation

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,070