Successful patenting—not only how, but with whom: the importance of patent attorneys

Abstract

The role of patent attorneys is usually overlooked in empirical analyses of patents. Using a large dataset of Polish patent applications, 2006–2015, and the econometric model of logistic regression with interactions, the article identifies factors contributing to the successful patenting outcomes. Patents are more likely to be granted for applications filed by multiple applicants, particularly if a scientific organization is involved. Industry, region and decisions to apply for international protection were found as relevant variables affecting the patent grants. The involvement of attorneys was found to be a strong predictor of the outcome, and the study considered multiple variables characterizing the prior experience of attorneys, including their performance, effectiveness, work with scientific or business clients and support for patent applications that were also filed for international protection. The findings offer novel insights into sources of patenting success, indicating that it’s not only important how the patent applications are drafted and what their detailed contents are, but also who exactly prepares them.