Bits and Pieces: Value of Weak Patents, Assessing CETA and the Contribution of Academic Knowledge to Industry

Here are three publications that caught our eye:

1. The Value of a ‘Weak’ Patent (see here)

A Monte Carlo simulation is used to value weak patents in this interesting study. Liu finds the value of weak patents to be affected by litigation risk. Whether or not one agrees with this finding it raises interesting questions about the strategies around weak patents, and perhaps helps decision-making on how much resource to devote to them.

2. Making Sense of the CETA (see here)                   

This is a study of the Canadian-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. It is very detailed and has caused controversy. It is of interest to us as providing a possible framework to look at the fairness of trade agreements in general. The study focuses on provisions to allow corporations to seek compensation from governments outside of the regular court system. That will undermine environment protection measures, public health policies and other public interest legislation.

3. The Contribution of Academic Knowledge to the Value of Industry Inventions (see here)

This study finds that inventors benefit more when they can gain theoretical academic knowledge from universities, rather than simply solutions to specified technical problems. Perhaps this offers insights to how best to university academic knowledge in advancing technological progress.