David and Goliath: The challenges with enforcing patents for small firms and entrepreneurs

Important results from the project

Domstolsprocessen och ekonomiska begränsningar har lyfts fram som viktiga utmaningar i tidigare forskning, men våra resultat pekar på att utmaningarna börjar redan innan domstolsprocessen. Utöver ekonomiska begränsningar och utmaningarna med en riskabel, dyrt och lång rättsprocess, relaterar utmaningarna också till kunskaps- och resursbrist, brist på förutseende, och faktorer på individnivå. Summan av dessa utmaningar sätter små företag och entreprenörer i en svår situation när de vill skydda sina innovationer från intrång genom en rättsprocess.

Expected long term effects

Patent litigation is an important process for innovators to protect their inventions, and for countries aiming to stimulate innovation. However, there are indications from both practice and research that small firms and entrepreneurs encounter relatively large challenges in patent infringement litigation, as compared to larger firms. The purpose of this project has been to increase our understanding of these challenges.

Approach and implementation

We collected and analyzed data on all patent infringement cases worldwide involving at least one Swedish actor (as plaintiff and/or defendant). We also conducted 38 in-depth interviews among small firms, entrepreneurs, and attorneys with experience from patent litigation in Sweden. We moreover observed a patent court case between an individual inventor and his former collaborator (this study is still ongoing). The data was analyzed in order to understand the complexity of challenges with patent litigation.