Résumé

This discussion paper investigates the role of defensive publications, specifically those published in Research Disclosure, in the innovation landscape relative to patents. Utilizing a large language model to apply the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system, the authors map a dataset of defensive publications from 1962 to 2022 against patents, allowing for a comparative analysis of their content, novelty, and value. The findings reveal that while some technologies show similar trends in patents and research disclosures, others exhibit diverging patterns, particularly in specific CPC sections. Notably, many research disclosures precede the filing of related patents and introduce terminology that appears in patents later, indicating a significant level of technological leadership. Furthermore, the study highlights that research disclosures have evolved from niche publications to important vehicles for disseminating high-value technological developments. This research underscores the limitations of relying solely on patent data to assess technological progress, suggesting that defensive publications play a crucial role in the innovation ecosystem, often capturing advancements that patents may overlook.

Classification CIB

Mots-clés