University Patenting in Germany before and after 2002: What Role Did the Professors' Privilege Play?

Abstract

We examine ownership patterns of German university-invented patents before and after the abolition of the “professors' privilege” in 2002 to explore how the legal change affected patenting activities. We find no evidence of increased patenting activities after the reform. Our data moreover show a pronounced shift from individually owned and firm-owned patents to university-owned patents. Differences in inventors' patent experience help explain the variance in ownership patterns. Both experienced and inexperienced inventors are affected by the legal change.