de Rassenfosse, G., van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie, B., 2013. "The role of fees in patent systems: Theory and evidence". The Journal of Economic Surveys, 27(4), 696-716.

Abstract
This paper reviews the economic literature on the role of fees in patent systems. Two main research questions are usually addressed: the impact of patent fees on the behavior of applicants and the question of optimal fees. Studies in the former group confirm that a range of fees affect the behavior of applicants and suggest that a patent is an inelastic good. Studies in the latter group provide grounds for both low and high application (or pre-grant) fees and renewal (or post-grant) fees, depending on the structural context and on policy objectives. The paper also presents new stylized facts on patent fees of thirty patent offices worldwide. It is shown that application fees are generally lower than renewal fees, and renewal fees increase more than proportionally with patent age.

Keywords: patent cost, patent fees, patent system, price elasticity, intellectual property policy, renewal fees
JEL classification: O30; O31; O38; O57

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This article:

• Reviews the theoretical and empirical literature on patent fees;
• Provides the historical evolution of patent fees in the United States;
• Provides new stylized facts on cross-country differences in the level and the structure of fees in 30 patent offices;
• Shows that renewal fees generally increase more than proportionally with patent age;
• Intends to raise awareness that fees matter: they can be used to fine tune patent systems and should be accounted for when using patent data;
• Suggests avenues for future research.

• Are patent fees effective at weeding out low quality patents?
• On the price elasticity of demand for patents
• Per un pugno di dollari: A first look at the price elasticity of patents
• A policy insight into the R&D-patent relationship

• The role of fees in patent systems: Theory and evidence, CEPR Discussion Paper 7879
• The role of fees in patent systems: Theory and evidence, ECARES Working Paper 2010-023