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Tracking strategic patents through patent self-citations: An empirical study of the US semiconductor industry

Almgren, Sten LU and Hallberg, Gunnar LU (2024) NEKH02 20241
Department of Economics
Abstract
This thesis explores the impact of preemptive patenting strategies on technological competition in the context of the US semiconductor industry. Employing publicly available patent data from 49 US based semiconductor firms, strategic patents serving preemptive purposes are identified through self-citations to prior art. Patent-level data is analyzed to determine whether strategic patents deter future entry into the technological domain of the patenting firm. In addition, firm-level financial data is gathered to study potential determinants of strategic patenting. Our findings reveal that patents that are protected by clusters of strategic patents tend to be less cited by rival firms. Yet, we find no economically significant effect on the... (More)
This thesis explores the impact of preemptive patenting strategies on technological competition in the context of the US semiconductor industry. Employing publicly available patent data from 49 US based semiconductor firms, strategic patents serving preemptive purposes are identified through self-citations to prior art. Patent-level data is analyzed to determine whether strategic patents deter future entry into the technological domain of the patenting firm. In addition, firm-level financial data is gathered to study potential determinants of strategic patenting. Our findings reveal that patents that are protected by clusters of strategic patents tend to be less cited by rival firms. Yet, we find no economically significant effect on the external citations received by the strategic patents themselves. Size and capital intensity of semiconductor firms are found to be linked to greater strategic patenting propensity, while R&D intensity has little impact. Our results further contribute to a greater understanding of possible ways in which patent data can be employed to track preemptive patenting behavior in industries. (Less)
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author
Almgren, Sten LU and Hallberg, Gunnar LU
supervisor
organization
course
NEKH02 20241
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Industrial organization Patents Strategic patenting Semiconductors
language
English
id
9157581
date added to LUP
2024-09-24 08:57:42
date last changed
2024-09-24 08:57:42
@misc{9157581,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores the impact of preemptive patenting strategies on technological competition in the context of the US semiconductor industry. Employing publicly available patent data from 49 US based semiconductor firms, strategic patents serving preemptive purposes are identified through self-citations to prior art. Patent-level data is analyzed to determine whether strategic patents deter future entry into the technological domain of the patenting firm. In addition, firm-level financial data is gathered to study potential determinants of strategic patenting. Our findings reveal that patents that are protected by clusters of strategic patents tend to be less cited by rival firms. Yet, we find no economically significant effect on the external citations received by the strategic patents themselves. Size and capital intensity of semiconductor firms are found to be linked to greater strategic patenting propensity, while R&D intensity has little impact. Our results further contribute to a greater understanding of possible ways in which patent data can be employed to track preemptive patenting behavior in industries.}},
  author       = {{Almgren, Sten and Hallberg, Gunnar}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Tracking strategic patents through patent self-citations: An empirical study of the US semiconductor industry}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}