Patents, Inventions and the Dynamics of Innovation

Transcription

1 Patents, Inventions and the Dynamics of Innovation A Multidisciplinary Study Roger Cullis Senior Visiting Fellow, Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute, University of London, UK Edward Elgar Cheltenham, UK Northampton, MA, USA

2 Contents Preface ix Prologue The Author's perspective Setting the scene Introduction The nature of innovation and the mechanics of change The influence of the determinants Initial hypothesis Research methodology and anticipated utility of results Conclusion Placing the research in context Introduction The emergence of inventions and discoveries The source and nature of the inventive process The stimulus for invention The logistics of invention Corporate strategy Communications and the introduction of change The influence of intellectual property monopolies Market Structure Market Power De facto and response-time monopolies External agencies - government policy; regulatory control; economic cycles Finance Main points from the literature survey Conclusion Analysis of technological innovation case studies Introduction Influences on the development of the incandescent lamp industry Conclusions from the first case study The birth of electronics 45

3 vi Patents, Inventions and the Dynamics of Innovation 4.5 Influences on the development of the electronics industry Conclusions from the second case study The invention of the transistor Influences on the development of the semiconductor industry Conclusions from the third case study The silicon chip Conclusions from the fourth case study The nature and process of invention Introduction Categories of invention The need to create an infrastructure The sources of invention The half-baked idea Conclusion The logistics of innovation Introduction The inevitability of conception The paradigm shift The 'Red Queen' corollary The development locus The 'Sailing Ship' effect Repeated and simultaneous invention Missed opportunities Failure Conclusion 'All change!' - stimuli and constraints Introduction The laws of physics and properties of materials Enabling inventions The economic motivation Coupled paradigms The'Avis'effect Conclusion Faith, hope and clarity - the inventor's role Introduction The inventive mind Ethics Motivation The profile of inventive activity The ability to communicate 130

4 Contents vii 8.7 Conclusion Carrot and stick - the influence of official policy Introduction Intellectual property monopolies Regulatory control and standards Public policy The effects of military activity Direct intervention Competition law International treaties and harmonisation of laws Conclusion Chicken and egg - do existing markets control inventions Introduction Finance Marketing Strategic utilisation of patents Stimulants Communication Dirty tricks Conclusion or do inventions make markets? Introduction The initial monopoly Free competition Oligopoly The emergence of the cartel - cross-licences, trusts, pools and combinations The 'ocean roller' market - surfers and sinkers The'vulture'market The'phoenix'market The bipedal market - the flip-flopoly Quasi-stable monopoly - the 'Third Little Pig' syndrome Global rather than national markets The evolution of market structure in a technology-based industry Conclusion Many a mickle makes a model Introduction Interaction between systems Mathematical modelling of algorithms 239

5 viii Patents, Inventions and the Dynamics of Innovation 12.4 The process of model building Algorithms underlying the model The components of a model of the dynamics of innovation Timing and logistics of change Conclusion Empirical rules, ok? Introduction The nature of the problem Does the invention continue an existing paradigm or start a new one? What are the prospects for the invention and where will the constraints arise? What is the present and potential market? Control parameters State variables What is the hierarchical arrangement of the factors of this innovation? Are there phasing considerations unique to this invention? Appraisal of an exemplary invention - the EDFA Conclusion Post scriptum Serendipity Epilogue 306 Table of cases 316 References 317 Patents Index 328 Name Index 330