Patent attorneys are responsible for obtaining patents that bring the highest expected profits for their corporate clients. We investigate the role of patent attorney capability in determining the value of corporate patents. We find that a one standard deviation increase in legal expertise leads to a 0.04% rise in patents' market valuation and a 3% increase in citations. This finding holds irrespective of the number of patents obtained by patent attorneys to date (process experience). To establish causality, we exploit a novel shock: the opening of new regional patent offices in the US; and changes in a firm's patent attorney. Overall, we find that capable patent attorneys matter as they increase both the economic and technological value of corporate patents.
机构:
Duke Kunshan Univ, Environm Res Ctr, Div Social Sci, Kunshan, Peoples R China
Duke Kunshan Univ, Data Sci Res Ctr, Kunshan, Peoples R ChinaDuke Kunshan Univ, Environm Res Ctr, Div Social Sci, Kunshan, Peoples R China
Cui, Jingbo
Li, Tianqi
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机构:
Univ North Carolina Chapel Hill, Dept Econ, Chapel Hill, NC USADuke Kunshan Univ, Environm Res Ctr, Div Social Sci, Kunshan, Peoples R China
Li, Tianqi
Wang, Zhenxuan
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机构:
Duke Univ, Nicholas Sch Environm, Durham, NC USA
Duke Univ, Sanford Sch Publ Policy, Durham, NC USADuke Kunshan Univ, Environm Res Ctr, Div Social Sci, Kunshan, Peoples R China
机构:
North China Univ Water Conservancy & Elect Power, Dept Management & Econ, Zhengzhou, Henan, Peoples R ChinaNorth China Univ Water Conservancy & Elect Power, Dept Management & Econ, Zhengzhou, Henan, Peoples R China
机构:
College of Business, Iowa State University, Ames, 50011-1350, IACollege of Business, Iowa State University, Ames, 50011-1350, IA
Gao L.
Yang L.L.
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School of Business Administration, University of Miami, Coral Gables, 33124-6531, FLCollege of Business, Iowa State University, Ames, 50011-1350, IA
Yang L.L.
Zhang J.H.
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Fogelman College of Business and Economics, The University of Memphis, Memphis, 38152-3120, TNCollege of Business, Iowa State University, Ames, 50011-1350, IA