Study predicts 50% of all patents will be owned by just 150 big companies
The ‘Fat Head’ of patent ownership worldwide just keeps getting bigger – a new study out this week predicts that in the near future, most patents worldwide will be held by just 150 blue-chip companies. For a system designed to promote innovation (when these companies already rely massively on innovation – I would argue even unprotected innovation – to compete), that’s really not very heartwarming, and certainly lends purpose to the unfortunately named Pirate Party recently given a presence in the European Parliament in this summer’s elections.
Mind out, though, that whilst these are impressive numbers, this isn’t a very scientific study and the statistical analysis seems overly simplistic. If anyone knows of a better study along these lines, I’d be indebted to be pointed to it…
Announcement: http://www.grayonclaims.com/home/2009/11/23/top-150-customers-increasing-domination-of-the-patent-system.html
Direct link to the results slideshow: http://www.grayonclaims.com/storage/GrayWegnerTop300Nov23REV.pdf
Via: http://www.patenthawk.com/blog/2009/11/1.html and http://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2009/11/patently-o-bits-and-bytes-2.html
Related:
- Odd, horrible tidbit
- A patent application was filed for ovens for the burning of human corpses. Somewhat surprisingly, the company that filed the patent explains that on its very own website, rather than cover it up. As if that wasn’t weird enough, that patent application was used as evidence of genocide at Auschwitz by Penguin Books who were being [...]...
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