Title: What makes patent pools successful? An analysis of optical disc and mobile phone industries

Authors: Thierry Rayna; Ludmila Striukova

Addresses: Department of Economics, Novancia Business School, 3, rue Armand Moisant, 75015 Paris, France ' Department of Management Science and Innovation, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT, London, UK

Abstract: The modern patent landscape, especially in high tech industries, is complex and requires market participants to use collaborative governance structures in order to cut down the increasing transaction costs. This paper focuses on one of these governance structures - patent pools. By analysing eight case studies in optical disc and mobile phone industries, this article aims to understand what a successful patent pool is and what the determinants of its success are. Although the two technologies discussed in the article were initially developed over the same period of time, their respective pools developed differently. Our findings suggest, however, that there are nonetheless some similarities in determinants of success across these two sectors.

Keywords: patent pools; licensing; strategic alliances; standards; optical discs; mobile networks; mobile phones; cell phones; patents; patenting; high tech industries; high technology; collaborative governance; transaction costs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2015.068435

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2015 Vol.19 No.1/2, pp.6 - 29

Received: 14 Jan 2013
Accepted: 04 Jan 2014
Published online: 03 Apr 2015 *

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