Patents and Innovation

Summary

The McNair Center Project on Patents and Innovation reports on the current issues facing America's patent system and works to explain critical terminology. In addition to providing basic information on patent institutions, the project specifically investigates current and proposed reform acts and the effects of patent trolling in litigation.

Project Outline

Works in Progress

• The Issue Brief on Patent Trolls explores their role in patent activity and litigation in America. Additionally, the paper expounds several hypotheses regarding the definition of a patent troll and the efficacy of reform legislation.
• The Patent Thicket Literature Review seeks to formally define the term patent thicket by analyzing and condensing the seven proposed definitions.
• The public Wiki Page on Innovation Policy provides information on patent institutions and current criticism of the American patent system as well as describes proposed patent reform legislation.

Future Work

• Investigating the challenges and the inequalities the "Little Guy" faces in patent litigation.
• Analyzing the success and the shortcomings of current Patent Reform Acts.
• A public Wiki Page presenting and explaining Patent Data and Patent Variables.