Publications
Publications
- 2017
- HBS Working Paper Series
Patent Trolls and Small Business Employment
By: Ian Appel, Joan Farre-Mensa and Elena Simintzi
Abstract
We analyze how frivolous patent-infringement claims made by “patent trolls” affect small firms’ ability to create jobs, raise capital, and survive. Our identification strategy exploits the staggered passage of anti-patent-troll laws at the state level. We find that the passage of this legislation leads to a 2% increase in employment at small firms in high-tech industries, which are a frequent target of patent trolls. By contrast, the laws have no significant impact on employment at larger or non-high-tech firms. Anti-troll legislation is also associated with fewer business bankruptcies. Financing appears to be a key channel driving our findings: in states with an already established VC presence, the passage of anti-troll laws leads to a 19% increase in the number of firms receiving VC funding. Our findings suggest that measures aimed at curbing the litigation threat posed by patent trolls may play an important role in reducing both the real and financing frictions faced by small businesses.
Keywords
Citation
Appel, Ian, Joan Farre-Mensa, and Elena Simintzi. "Patent Trolls and Small Business Employment." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 17-072, February 2017.