Title: A new data-based analytical framework for patent appropriation strategies: the case of the cosmetic sector

Authors: Clement Sternberger; Frederic Caillaud; Ahmed Bounfour

Addresses: WIPO, 34, Chemin des Colombettes CH-1211 Genève 20, Switzerland ' STRATHEC, 10 Avenue du Général Sarrail, 78400 Chatou, France ' RITM and European Chair on Intangibles, Faculté Jean Monnet, Université Paris-Saclay, 54 Boulevard Desgranges, 92330 Sceaux, France

Abstract: If several surveys seem to indicate that firms no longer recognise patents as an effective defence mechanism, patent applications have been on a surge since the mid-1980s. Those same surveys argue that firms still apply for patents, but mostly for different motivations than protection, most of them related to strategic purposes. Previous works, both empirical and conceptual, already identified several of those strategies. However, their analysis remains limited by the use of survey data, while a substantial amount of information is freely available through patent data. Based on patent quality indicators from the literature, we aim to contribute to the innovation appropriation strategy literature by providing new empirical observation through the case study of the cosmetic sector. Our results reveal three specific patenting behaviours: patenting for image purposes, differences between specialists and generalist firms, and the strategy of a sectorial leader facing oligopolistic competitors.

Keywords: analytical framework; appropriation strategies; strategical patenting; technological quality indicators; case study; patent data.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIPM.2024.139812

International Journal of Intellectual Property Management, 2024 Vol.14 No.4, pp.358 - 388

Received: 21 Apr 2022
Accepted: 01 Nov 2022
Published online: 05 Jul 2024 *

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