Product Patents Research Articles

Closed-loop supply chain decision making considering product design strategy under patent protection

This paper combines product design and patent protection and construct a dynamic decision-making model consisting of a single original manufacturer and a single remanufacturer based on Stackelberg game. We study the impact of different product design strategies on remanufacturing decisions in the presence of patent protection and explore the influencing factors of the original manufacturer's product design level. The results show that: (1) the original manufacturer’s product design level is negatively correlated with the coefficient of R&D cost impact and the coefficient of remanufacturing cost, and positively correlated with the coefficient of consumer utility impact; (2) the unit patent licensing fee is positively correlated with the coefficient of R&D cost impact and negatively correlated with the coefficient of remanufacturing cost and the coefficient of consumer utility impact; (3) under different product design strategies, product design strategies that consider both eco-orientation and remanufacturing-orientation are most conducive to the stable development of the closed-loop supply chain.

DEVELOPMENT OF MICRO SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN TOURIST DESTINATIONS AROUND THE NUSANTARA CAPITAL

The East Kalimantan region is a region with rapid development following the designation of the National Capital in one of its regions, namely North Penajam Paser Regency. Therefore, East Kalimantan Province needs to increase MSMEs in tourist destinations as a form of the government's role in optimizing the tourism sector in East Kalimantan. Assuming that the development of the area around IKN will occur rapidly due to the presence of IKN in East Kalimantan, it requires more effective policies to promote the tourism sector. The aim of this research is to collect data on the existing conditions of tourism (tourist destinations) around the IKN area as a forum for developing MSMEs, accommodating the problems of the tourism sector, MSMEs and problems that intersect between these sectors as well as identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges of MSMEs in tourist destinations around the IKN area, to then provide policy recommendations. This research uses secondary data and primary data. The secondary data used is MSME data which is grouped based on the KBLI classification in the form of business scale; venture capital; business risk; and number of workers. Data collection of information on the existing conditions of MSMEs in tourist destinations around IKN is carried out at the Tourism Office in each Regency/City in East Kalimantan. Analysis of qualitative data was carried out using the SWOT technique. The initial step of SWOT analysis is carried out by determining the internal and external factor matrix. The IFE (Internal Factor Evaluation) and EFE (External Factor Evaluation) matrices consist of columns, weights, ratings and total values which are the result of multiplying the weights and ratings. Ranking of levels of importance is done with the help of the QDA application. The research results show that the condition of MSMEs in tourist destinations around IKN still needs to be improved. This condition is because MSMEs still do not have NIBs, product patents and trademarks, and there are limited human resources for developing digital marketing and financial management. The resulting recommendations are (1) Promotion and innovation of tourist destinations by highlighting superior natural and cultural tourism, (2) Controlling MSMEs related to business licensing, business clustering, and assistance in preparing business financial reports, (3) The government coordinates the use of funds. CSR and other assistance for the development of tourism facilities and MSMEs, as well as (4) Coordination of promotion of local products at tourist destinations as well as training assistance to increase product innovation.

How creditor protection stimulates corporate R&D: Insights from internet judicial auctions in China

This paper investigates whether strengthened creditor protection affects corporate R&D. Our identification strategy treats China's Internet judicial auction (IJA) as an exogenous shock to creditor protection and then adopts a staggered difference-in-differences (DID) estimation. The results show that IJA significantly increase corporate R&D. Mechanism analysis indicates that IJA increase loan availability of firms by lowering loan costs and improving loan scale, finally leading to an enhancement in R&D investment. In addition, this promotion effect is more pronounced among non-state-owned firms, firms in capital-intensive industries, and firms in highly competitive industries. Further analysis suggests that IJA can improve firms' patent output, productivity, and operational efficiency. Overall, our findings show that strengthening creditor protection through IJA can enhance corporate R&D investment.

Innovation’s false spring: U.S. export controls and Chinese patent quality

This paper evaluates the effect of U.S. export restrictions, enacted in 2018, on China’s patent production. An analysis of patent-level datasets indicates a significant surge in Chinese patent filings in sanctioned technological domains. This quantitative growth, however, is accompanied by a decrease in patent quality, evidenced by reduced citation counts and market worth. Specifically, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have witnessed a substantial rise in patent filings post-2018, while private firms exhibit a more modest increase. Despite the surge in patent quantity, the overall quality of patents—particularly those originating from SOEs—has deteriorated significantly. This study contributes to the body of research concerning the economic consequences of the US-China trade dispute and offers original insights into the implications of trade sanctions on innovation quality.

Elements of Strategic Planning of Patent Protection for Pharmaceutical Inventions

INTRODUCTION. The commercial success of innovations in medicine and pharmaceutics depends on the strategic planning of patent protection, with the main elements for consideration being the type of patent protection, the scope of the invention, and the order of obtaining protection documents.AIM. This study aimed to analyse specific aspects of the strategic planning of patent protection for pharmaceutical inventions.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study applied analysis and comparison methods to patent information. Statistical data were prepared using patent databases, including the Rospatent search platform and Questel.RESULTS. In the Russian Federation, invention patents for methods of treatment and diagnosis are more abundant than pharmaceutical product patents. The most reasonable method for protecting intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical industry is the stepwise obtaining of different types of protection documents for different objects of patent protection, including inventions, utility models, and industrial designs, as part of one project. The strategy of patent protection for a pharmaceutical invention should consider the type of patent (protection combining the use of patents for inventions, utility models, and industrial designs), the correct determination of the object of patent protection (obtaining a product (substance) patent), and stepwise obtaining and strategic accumulation of different protection documents.CONCLUSION. The described strategy helps to cover the fullest possible range of rights protection options, prevent patent infringement, and extend the patent protection period for an invention.

“Patent Productivity among Academic Plastic Surgeons in the United States over 20 Years”

BackgroundInnovation is a cornerstone of plastic and reconstructive surgery. Patents are one way to measure innovation. The objective of this study was to quantify and understand patent productivity in the career of academic plastic surgeons. MethodsFaculty affiliated with United States academic medical centers with integrated plastic surgery residencies were searched by name on Google Patents from inception through April 2024. Included patents were active or pending and related to a fundamental clinical or basic science area of plastic surgery. ResultsAmong 977 academic plastic surgeons across 89 programs, there were 191 active or pending patents published by 68 (7.0%) surgeons. The average number of patents per inventor was 2.8 (4.3). The highest number of active or pending patents attributed to a surgeon-inventor was 25. Nearly 50% (n=91) of patents were held by four universities. Time since initial board certification correlated poorly with the number of patents produced (R2 = 0.17, P > 0.1). Being at a program with more affiliated patents correlated with the presence of more patent-producers (rs = 0.66; P <0.001). There was no indication that higher percent revenue distribution to an inventor increased patent productivity (rs= 0.002; P > 0.05). ConclusionsPlastic surgery remains a field driving innovation. Plastic surgeons at all career stages hold patents, highlighting the possibility for early patent pursuit. Patent-productivity was concentrated in several programs in the US, suggesting certain centers of innovations exist and may be worthy of further study.

INDICADORES PARA AVALIAÇÃO DA VISIBILIDADE DAS PATENTES EM UNIVERSIDADES FEDERAIS

Increasingly, universities are contributing to technological development due to the high production of patents. Researchers use indicators related to patent dynamics as a means of evaluating the innovative process in universities, but the instruments until then do not signal their disclosure. In view of the above, this article aims to develop and validate a model to evaluate the visibility of university patents, based on a set of indicators. For this purpose, the model was initially constituted by the preliminary definition of the indicators and their classification according to the scope, in the second stage it was given by the evaluation, through the Fuzzy Delphi method, in order to determine which indicators should remain. After validation, the final model was composed of 14 indicators, categorized into 3 dimensions. It is expected that with the proposed model, the application of the same can contribute to more dissemination of university patents in order to achieve more visibility, as well as expand technology transfers.

Precision agriculture in avocado production: Mapping the landscape of scientific and technological developments

The integration of cutting-edge precision agriculture technologies into avocado production is a promising strategy to boost productivity and profitability in this thriving industry. While previous reviews have explored the application of emerging technologies in avocado cultivation, there is a gap in the analysis of patent production. This research aims to bridge that gap by identifying trends in both scientific and technological innovations related to precision agriculture in avocado. Through a bibliometric analysis using data from Scopus and Lens.org, this study reveals that scientific production is primarily concentrated in industrialized countries, with limited research output from major avocado-producing nations. The focus of research has been on remote sensing and image processing techniques. In terms of technological development, innovations in agricultural data capture, collection, and processing, as well as components for agricultural machinery, have been the most prevalent. Market-available technologies are designed to predict crop yields and assess the impact of abiotic factors such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation. By adopting these precision agriculture tools, avocado farmers can make data-driven decisions to optimize resource use, improve crop health, and ultimately enhance overall farm performance.

Research on the impact of industrial innovation determinants in China

ABSTRACT China's industries have been positioned at lower and mid-range of the global industrial chain. On the basis of the latest China Economic Census, the effects of external technology acquisition and internal research and development (R&D) efforts on the innovation performance of Chinese industrial enterprises are examined. The results demonstrate that the levels of R&D intensity, patent output and innovation capability of Chinese industrial enterprises are still very low. Independent R&D has become the most vital source of technological innovation. External technology acquisition significantly inhibits the impact of internal R&D on patent production. In addition, the critical role of independent R&D in the innovation performance of Chinese industrial enterprises is confirmed. This study is of theoretical value and practical significance for promoting the industrial innovation advantages, accelerating the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy and upgrading industrial structure.

Cambodia's Imminent Graduation from Least Developed Country Status: What Will be the Impact of the TRIPS Agreement on Access to HIV and Hepatitis C Medicines in Cambodia?

Cambodia has experienced exponential economic growth in recent years and is expected to graduate from least developed country (LDC) status within the next decade. Membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will require Cambodia to grant product and process patents for pharmaceuticals upon LDC graduation. This study aims to measure the impact of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on the price of HIV and hepatitis C medicine in Cambodia once it graduates from LDC status and is obliged to make patents available for pharmaceutical products and processes. Using scenarios based on likely outcomes of accession to the TRIPS Agreement, it measures the impact on the price of the HIV treatment program and compares that impact with the hepatitis C treatment program. Graduation from LDC status would be expected to result in a modest increase in the cost of the antiretroviral (ARV) treatment program and very large increases in the cost of the direct acting antivirals (DAA) treatment program. If annual treatment budgets remain constant, patent protection could see 1,515 fewer people living with HIV able to access ARV treatment and 2,577 fewer people able to access DAA treatment (a drop in treatment coverage of 93%).

Поэтапная комбинированная разработка золоторудных месторождений

Introduction. It is noted that in the Russian gold mining industry, the profitability of gold production is associated with the development of technologies for leaching it from substandard ores and enrichment waste. It is shown that the priority aspect of the development of substandard raw materials is to increase the yield of more gold with acceptable additional investments, predicted based on the analysis of the production function in the models of economic growth of enterprises. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the possibility of increasing the completeness of subsurface use during the phased development of reserves with a combination of chemical and mechanical extraction processes. Methods of achieving the goal include the use of literary and patent sources, production experience, laboratory and field experiments, modeling and technical and economic calculations. Results. The relevance of the development of a new raw material base is shown by the example of the reserves of the Sadonsky poly-metallic deposit. The information on the operations of hydrometallurgical and heap leaching of gold with bringing to the final product is detailed. An algorithm is proposed for the selection of options for the development of gold bulls. A model is presented to calculate the efficiency of phased field development over time. An optimized scheme of heap leaching of gold and indicators of gold extraction are presented. The scheme of electrochemical leaching of gold from sulfur-containing ores is recommended. The factors of the impact of mining on the environment at three stages of development are systematized. A model is presented for determining the efficiency of utilization of enrichment tailings and profits from the extraction of gold from enrichment tailings and metallurgy, taking into account environmental damage. The results of calculating the efficiency of gold extraction at the factory and leaching in blocks and cubes are presented. It is shown that the end-to-end metal recovery coefficient by leaching is comparable to the traditional technology of processing balance reserves. It is proved that when combining technologies at the stages of field development, a larger amount of metal is extracted from the subsurface. Conclusion: with a small increase in infrastructure modernization costs, combining traditional technology and leaching technologies, more metal is extracted from the subsurface.

Relatedness, Complexity and Regional Diversification in the European Union: The Role of Co‐inventor Networks

AbstractWe investigate the role of both internal and external co‐inventor networks in regional diversification. The impact of co‐inventor networks on regional technological diversification is tested for a data set containing 1,495,699 patents in 643 technologies in 290 European regions at the NUTS‐2 level, between 1987 and 2016. Our results show that both internal co‐inventor network connectivity and external co‐inventor network linkages could benefit regional technology entry and prevent regional technology exit. However, too inwardly oriented or outwardly connected co‐inventor networks would hamper patent production. Regarding regional diversification, we find that both internal and external co‐inventor networks could facilitate the entry of related technologies and restrain the exit of complex technologies. This paper contributes to the literature by initiating the integration of the complexity dimension into analysing the role of co‐inventor networks in regional diversification. This research bears significant policy implications for the advancement of Smart Specialization Strategy in the European Union.

Burgeoning innovation and scalability activities for phosphorus recovery from wastewater treatment facilities

Phosphorus has been described as life's bottleneck due to its finite source and indispensable role in sustaining living cell functionalities. The paradigm shift from recycling to linear phosphorus consumption that transpired after the Green Revolution brought about one of the most concerning recent environmental challenges-eutrophication. Many recovery technologies have been developed to reinstate phosphorous recycling in sophisticated and safe ways. This study critically reviewed the current state of global phosphorous natural reserves and pollution. It also discussed forecasted consumption trends and how the recovery could assist in meeting the increasing phosphorous demands. The current phosphorous recovery processes were reviewed. A multi-criteria comparison of the technologies within their technology redness levels (TRLs) groups was carried out using the PROMETHEE ranking approach. The comparison criteria focused on efficiency, product quality, and energy and chemicals consumption. The processes with the highest preference scores in their respective TRL groups employed chemical leaching and struvite precipitation. This study also presents patent analyses of P recovery technologies over the past 8 years. These analyses showed that China is at the forefront of patent production, while Europe leads in commercialization. Biochar modification and electrode materials development dominate recent innovations in P recovery.

A patent text-based product conceptual design decision-making approach considering the fusion of incomplete evaluation semantic and scheme beliefs

Conceptual design evaluation is a significant challenge in product development to select suitable conceptual schemes (CS). Relying on decision makers' (DMs) personal experience for design information may result in incomplete and ambiguous evaluation semantics, creating an incomplete decision matrix. Previous approaches use attributes based on candidate schemes to complete the missing information, but neglect the mining of associated design information from external resources such as patents, reducing the beliefs objectivity after missing semantic completion. Besides, non-compensatory nature between DMs’ interactivity and criteria have not been well considered. To fill these issues, a patent text-based CS decision approach considering the fusion of incomplete semantics and scheme beliefs is proposed. First, using the beneficial effects text from patents as historical design data, constructing general evaluation criteria using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic model, and introducing the Apriori model to extract strong association rules between criteria to complete the incomplete semantics. Second, a fuzzy measure model for DMs is constructed based on intuitionistic fuzzy cross-entropy and Shapley value method, supporting the allocation of DMs' interactive weights. Then, the fuzzy Dempster-Shafer evidence theory is used to transform the multi-criteria decision model into a belief fusion problem of CS that avoids aggregating the evaluation semantics of non-compensatory criteria and outputting the optimal CS with interval credibility. A practical case study of an in-pipe inspection robot will be employed to validate the proposed approach, sensitivity analysis and comparison results confirmed that the complement data have the reliability to avoid continuous investment in the evaluation process.

The pharmaceutical patent process: National Health Surveillance Agency and National Institute of Industrial Property act differently in the process

The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) is the government body responsible for granting patents in the national territory; in the case of medicines, they need to be registered with the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) in order to be marketed. There was a divergence in legal interpretation (of Art. 229-C of the IPL) which caused damage to entrepreneurs, laboratories and the community in general, as there was no express provision as to whether ANVISA's opinion would be binding on the INPI's decision on patent issues. The aim of this research was to analyze this problem, raising its main points and demonstrating how dangerous and damaging bureaucracy and inefficient and obscure normative acts that give rise to dubious interpretation can be, based on the application of hermeneutic and dialectical methods. In 2021, the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), in Special Appeal n. 1543826, held that ANVISA's opinion would be a valid prerequisite for granting patents for pharmaceutical products or processes. It was found that the STJ decision increased ANVISA's "powers", but with the repeal of Art. 229-C of the IPL, the dilemma was extinguished and the competencies of each body re-established. It is therefore of the utmost importance to fill legal gaps and issue clear and specific laws so as not to leave room for harmful interpretations, guaranteeing original competences and legal certainty.

Classification of hazelnut varieties based on bigtransfer deep learning model

Hazelnut is an agricultural product that contributes greatly to the economy of the countries where it is grown. The human factor plays a major role in hazelnut classification. The typical approach involves manual inspection of each sample by experts, a process that is both labor-intensive and time-consuming, and often suffers from limited sensitivity. The deep learning techniques are extremely important in the classification and detection of agricultural products. Deep learning has great potential in the agricultural sector. This technology can improve product quality, increase productivity, and offer farmers the ability to classify and detect their produce more effectively. This is important for sustainability and efficiency in the agricultural industry. In this paper aims to the application of deep learning algorithms to streamline hazelnut classification, reducing the need for manual labor, time, and cost in the sorting process. The study utilized hazelnut images from three different varieties: Giresun, Ordu, and Van, comprising a dataset of 1165 images for Giresun, 1324 for Ordu, and 1138 for Van hazelnuts. This dataset is an open-access dataset. In the study, experiments were carried out on the determination of hazelnut varieties with BigTransfer (BiT)-M R50 × 1, BiT-M R101 × 3 and BiT-M R152 × 4 models. Deep learning models, including big transfer was employed for classification. The classification task involved 3627 nut images and resulted in a remarkable accuracy of 99.49% with the BiT-M R152 × 4 model. These innovative methods can also lead to patentable products and devices in various industries, thereby boosting the economic value of the country.

Regulation of brands in the Indian pharmaceutical industry in the 1960s: Examination of the Tariff Commission Report, 1968

The literature on the Indian pharmaceutical industry has examined the importance of product patents and the attempts policy has made to regulate them. However, it has not done the same for the question of brands. Our study addresses this gap. The Tariff Commission Report of 1968, a turning point in the price control policies of the 1960s, is examined. The examination revealed two important points: first, there were attempts to regulate brands through policies; and second, brands were of high importance to all the major industry players. This became evident in the industry's resistance to the government's regulatory efforts.

An Industrial Perspective and Intellectual Property Landscape on Solid-State Battery Technology with a Focus on Solid-State Electrolyte Chemistries

This review focuses on the promising technology of solid-state batteries (SSBs) that utilize lithium metal and solid electrolytes. SSBs offer significant advantages in terms of high energy density and enhanced safety. This review categorizes solid electrolytes into four classes: polymer, oxide, hybrid, and sulfide solid electrolytes. Each class has its own unique characteristics and benefits. By exploring these different classes, this review aims to shed light on the diversity of materials and their contributions to the advancement of SSB technology. In order to gain insights into the latest technological developments and identify potential avenues for accelerating the progress of SSBs, this review examines the intellectual property landscape related to solid electrolytes. Thus, this review focuses on the recent SSB technology patent filed by the main companies in this area, chosen based on their contribution and influence in the field of batteries. The analysis of the patent application was performed through the Espacenet database. The number of patents related to SSBs from Toyota, Samsung, and LG is very important; they represent more than 3400 patents, the equivalent of 2/3 of the world’s patent production in the field of SSBs. In addition to focusing on these three famous companies, we also focused on 15 other companies by analyzing a hundred patents. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the strategies employed by various companies in the field of solid-state battery technologies, bridging the gap between applied and academic research. Some of the technologies presented in this review have already been commercialized and, certainly, an acceleration in SSB industrialization will be seen in the years to come.

Evaluation and cultivation method of high-tech value patents for mechanical products.

Evaluation of high value patents is essential for the enterprise's technical layout and innovative product design. The existing research on the patent value needs the support of a large number of professional statistical information and is difficult to directly reflect the technical value. Since technological innovation is the fundamental means to enhance the sustainable competitiveness of enterprises. Therefore, a high-tech value patent evaluation and cultivation method for engineering designers need to be proposed. Firstly, the patent samples based on design methodology are retrieved and the indicators for evaluating technical value are summarized and the rationality of the evaluation indicators is verifier through empirical study based on improved evidence theory. Secondly, based on principal component analysis and factor analysis, a high-tech value patent evaluation and cultivation method is proposed. Finally, the proposed method is applied to identify the high-tech value patents in the cutting machine industry, and structural improvement is made based on this patent to demonstrate the cultivation process of high-tech value patents. The proposed method provides a clear guiding direction for the cultivation of high novelty patents and enterprise innovative product design. The method can effectively assist the product R&D activities of engineering designers and enhance the sustainable competitiveness of enterprises from a technological perspective.

Large-Scale Production of Specialized Metabolites In Vitro Cultures.

For centuries plants have been intensively utilized as reliable sources of food, flavoring, and pharmaceutical ingredients. However, plant natural habitats are being rapidly lost due to the climate change and agriculture. Plant biotechnology offers a sustainable approach for the bioproduction of specialized plant metabolites. The unique structural features of plant-derived specialized metabolites, such as their safety profile and multi-target spectrum, have led to the establishment of many plant-derived drugs. However, there are still many challenges to overcome regarding the production of these metabolites from plant in vitro systems and establish a sustainable large-scale biotechnological process. These challenges are due to the peculiarities of plant cell metabolism, the complexity of plant specialized metabolite pathways, and the correct selection of bioreactor systems and bioprocess optimization. In this book chapter, we attempted to focus on the advantages of plant in vitro systems and in particular plant cell suspensions for their cultivation as a source of plant-derived specialized metabolites. A state-of-the-art technological platform for plant cell suspension cultivation from callus induction to lab-scale cultivation, extraction, and purification is presented. Possibilities for bioreactor cultivation of plant cell suspensions in benchtop and large-scale volumes are highlighted, including several examples and patents for industrial production of specialized metabolites.