Cooperation, trust and risk in the world's major patent offices

Author: Drahos, Peter

Source: Science and Public Policy, Volume 36, Number 8, October 2009 , pp. 641-647(7)

Publisher: Beech Tree Publishing

Key:

- Free Content

- New Content

- Subscribed Content

- Free Trial Content

Abstract:

The world's major patent offices have over the last few decades shown increasing levels of cooperation and trust. The increased level of cooperation can be explained in terms of common workload problems facing the offices and the demands of major users for greater efficiency. Increasing levels of trust amongst offices occur most strongly through examiner exchanges and eventually take the form of a technocratic trust in each others' systems. While some level of technocratic trust is desirable, it can carry risks. National offices and regional offices like the European Patent Office should not allow technocratic trust to lead them into a system in which they cede sovereignty over examination to a global system of administrative governance for patent offices.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.3152/030234209X475209

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$6.66 plus tax Refund Policy