Patent Thickets and Innovation Stagnation: A Double-Edged Sword

In the race to innovate, patents are often seen as shields that protect intellectual property and swords that help businesses dominate markets. But when too many patents overlap in a single technology area, they can form a tangled web known as a patent thicket—a situation that can paradoxically stifle the very innovation patents are meant to encourage. This can lead to costly litigation battles and hinder smaller companies from entering the market.

This “double-edged sword” of patent protection is now a hot topic in industries ranging from telecommunications to biotechnology. While patent thickets can act as powerful competitive tools, they can also lead to innovation stagnation, where progress slows due to excessive legal and licensing barriers.

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