The last two decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in the use of patent citation data in social science research. Facilitated by the digitization of patent data and increasing computing power, a community of practice has developed that has identified methods for using these data to measure attributes of innovations such as impact and originality; trace flows of knowledge across individuals, institutions and regions; and map innovation networks. The objectives of this chapter are threefold. First, it takes stock of these main uses. Second, it discusses four pitfalls associated with patent citation data, relating to office, time and technology, examiner, and strategic effects. Third, it highlights gaps in our understanding and offers directions for future research.
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Show ItemsFront Matter
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Show ItemsPart I: Intellectual Property As Property
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Show ItemsPart II: IP and Incentives
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Show ItemsPart III: IP Costs
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Show ItemsPart IV: IP and Institutions
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Show ItemsPart V: IP, Development, and International Trade
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Show Items
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Show ItemsPart I: Empirical Methods
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Part II: Empirical Studies Relating To Patents
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Section A: Metrics
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Section B: Patent Institutions and Litigation
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Show ItemsPart III: Patent Law Doctrines
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Show ItemsPart IV: Technology-Specific Studies
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Show ItemsPart V: Empirical Studies Relating to Copyright
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Show ItemsPart VI: Empirical Studies of Trademark Law
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Show ItemsPart VII: Empirical Methods In Trade Secret Research
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Show ItemsPart VIII: Knowledge Commons
