Title
Barriers to the use of patent information in UK small and medium-sized enterprises. Part I: Questionnaire survey
Abstract
A survey was carried out of a large number of UK-based small and medium-sized enterprises to assess their use of, and attitudes towards, patents and patent information. Use of patent information is closely linked to use of the patent system for protection purposes. There appears to be little correlation between attitudes towards patents and patent information and educational background or with the type of industry the company was active in. The use of intermediaries, such as patent agents, to carry out patent searches appears at times to create as many barriers as it overcomes. The general approach of Patent Offices, that failure to use patent information is dangerous and that the way tot overcome this is to make patent information easier or cheaper to use, may be misguided. The situation appears to be more complex. Small and medium-sized enterprises should not be treated as a single homogeneous group and, arguably, such companies do use patent information in the most appropriate way.
Year
DOI
Venue
1999
10.1177/016555159902500501
JOURNAL OF INFORMATION SCIENCE
DocType
Volume
Issue
Journal
25
5
ISSN
Citations 
PageRank 
0165-5515
5
0.84
References 
Authors
0
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Matthew Hall1172.46
Charles Oppenheim213447.82
Margaret Sheen350.84