Valuation of patent – a real options perspective

Abstract

Both the theoretical model and the empirical analysis methods are examined for valuing patents from the real options perspective. This study not only sets up a real options approach for evaluating patent to conform to the main sensitivity analysis of patent activities, but also establishes an empirical method about valuing patents by a panel data. Cross-sectional and time-series data from 101 Taiwanese electronic firms between 1993 and 2002 are employed for the fixed effects analysis in the panel data model. This study concludes the consist results from the theoretical model and empirical analysis. That is, the patent value increases with increasing the underlying asset, time to maturity and risk-free rate.