The valuation of patent-trademark pairing as IP strategy: evidence from the USPTO

The benefits of an IP strategy for an innovative project that combines both patenting and trademarking are compared to those of patenting alone. The results of the proposed econometric analysis of patents indicate that a strategy that pairs patenting and trademarking almost doubles patent value. The validity of this result was confirmed by examining several patentee demographic characteristics and an extensive set of patent value indicators regarding breadth and technology potential, prior art and patent background, filing and procedural aspects of a patent and IP usage mode. Quite interesting, when the holder of a utility patent also obtains a design patent, rather than opting for a trademark, there is no enhancement of the premium value.