@article{46836,
      url = {http://tind.wipo.int/record/46836},
      title = {Intellectual property, Patent Office should define  quality, reassess incentives, and improve clarity : report  to the Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, House of  Representatives.},
      abstract = {Resolving disputes over patent infringement and validity  in court often costs millions of dollars. Legal scholars  and economists have raised concerns about an increase in  the numbers of low quality patents, such as those that are  unclear and overly broad, which may lead to an increase in  patent infringement suits and can hinder innovation by  blocking new ideas from entering the marketplace. GAO was  asked to review issues related to patent quality. GAO  examined (1) recent trends in patent infringement  litigation and (2) what additional opportunities exist, if  any, to improve patent quality. GAO reviewed relevant laws  and agency documents; analyzed patent infringement  litigation data from 2007 through 2015; conducted a survey  of a generalizable sample of USPTO examiners; and  interviewed officials from USPTO and knowledgeable  stakeholders, including legal scholars, technology  companies, and patent attorneys, among others. GAO makes  seven recommendations, including that USPTO more  consistently define patent quality and articulate that  definition in agency documents and guidance, reassess the  time allotted for examination, analyze the effects of  incentives on patent quality, and consider requiring  applicants to use additional clarity tools.},
      recid = {46836},
      pages = {1 online resource (ii, 54 pages) :},
}