Micro dynamics of markets for ideas: Patent trade, costs and litigation during the industrialization of Sweden

Description

Markets for ideas (MFI) enable inventors to sell inventions that others could be better suited to either develop further and/or commercialize. During the industrialization of Sweden MFI were developed as, for instance the rate of patenting increased. Lack of data is however a major problem to conduct in-depth analyses of the role of MFI during eras of industrialization.

The purpose of this research project is therefore to go beyond aggregated analyses and focus underlying dynamics in MFI during the industrialization of Sweden, by benefiting from new data that has been made available regarding 1) “Inventor’s exchanges”; 2) real costs for patenting (including, for instance, costs accruing to the use of patent agents); 3) patent litigations.