The aim is to contribute to our understanding of the role of patent thickets as a barrier to entry into new technologies for UK enterprises, in particular small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).The report consists of several parts:A review of the literature on patent thickets, including the...

The report offers both a new and comparative methodology for measuring backlogs and pendency, as well as empirical findings on the relationship between application stocks and examination pendency in the UK and the US. Understanding these relationships is critical for better evidence based policy...

Report 1: Evaluating the impact of parody on the exploitation of copyright worksThis reports the key findings of the empirical study carried out by Dr. Kris Erickson and research assistants at Bournemouth University. The primary purpose of this research is to assess the potential for economic...

The research was conducted amongst businesses participating in the programme between November 2011 and March 2013.The objectives of the research were to measure:actions taken following the Intellectual Property (IP) audit and the impact of these changes within businessesunderstanding as to...

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of the UK economy. Their ability to grow is a key determinant of the nation’s future economic health.In recent years, businesses of all sizes have been investing more in intangible assets, in particular intellectual property, than in...

‘Orphan works’ are works in which copyright still subsists, but where the rightholder, whether it be the creator of the work or successor in title, cannot be located.This report was commissioned to assist the UK government in evaluating policy options in the implementation of the Hargreaves...