Doctoral Thesis: Non-practicing Entities may be beneficial for Patent Systems

Non-practicing entities (NPEs) are described as individuals or entities that use patents to generate profits through licensing campaigns, rather than building and manufacturing patent protected inventions. NPEs have been labelled as the most significant problem facing the patent system today, and have been accused of creating a mass of unwarranted patent litigation, which allegedly burdens industry and impedes technological innovation.

In her doctoral dissertation, The Exploitation and Enforcement of Patents By Non-practicing Entities: Practices, Developments, and Future Challenges, Kelli Larson investigates this particular type of controversial patent actor.

“My study shows that despite the highly polarized NPE debate in academia, in industry, and on the political stage, there is very little empirical research to substantiate the majority of criticisms directed to NPEs and their patent enforcements”, says Larson.

The thesis brings a more balanced view to the NPE discussion and adds to the scarce knowledge on the NPE phenomenon overall.

Larson’s research shows how NPE patent enforcement business models actually work in practice.

"My findings demonstrate that, despite some of their drawbacks, NPEs also create benefits within patent landscapes. One benefit being that they particularly help patent owners with patent enforcement, which is a key element in any well-functioning patent system”, Larson concludes.

Kelli Larson will defend her doctoral thesis in Commercial Law on Monday 25 September 2017 at 11:00am.

Time: 25.9.2017 at 11:00am
Place: Assembly Hall, Hanken School of Economics, Arkadiankatu 22, Helsinki
Opponent: Professor Paul Torremans, University of Nottingham
Custos: Professor Matti Kukkonen, Hanken School of Economics

Further information:

Kelli Larson
Phone: +358 40 3521 317
kelli.larson@hanken.fi