Why do firms patent?

Abstract

Firms' decisions to patent innovations involve a complex evaluation of costs, benefits, and strategic considerations. This article explores the economic and practical factors that influence whether companies seek patent protection. It discusses explicit monetary costs--such as legal fees, filing, and international expenses--and non-monetary costs related to public disclosure. Benefits include the provision of exclusion rights that secure returns and protect competitive advantages. Additionally, firms use patents as strategic tools to block rivals, strengthen bargaining positions, signal innovation quality, and attract investment. The analysis also considers alternative protection strategies like secrecy, particularly for small enterprises or industries where disclosure is detrimental.