Influencing Factors of Patent Examination Cycle: Case Study of Artificial Intelligence in China
Ou Guiyan1,Pang Na2,Wu Jiang1()
1School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China 2Department of Information Management, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
[Objective] This paper examines the factors and mechanism affecting the patent examination cycle in China. [Methods] We retrieved 78 254 invention patent applications in the field of artificial intelligence in China. Then, we used the Kaplan-Meier method in survival analysis and the COX proportional hazard regression model to explore the overview of patent examination. Third, we analyzed the characteristics of patent objects and subjects based on their characteristics, which explored the factors significantly affecting the patent examination cycles. [Results] In the field of artificial intelligence, the average survival period of the overall Chinese invention patent examination process was 32.81 months. The number of claims, the number of IPC classification IDs, and the number of inventors were the protective factors of the patent examination cycle and promoted its extension. The more patent citations, the shorter the time will be required to obtain authorization. Universities and scientific research institutions, as well as institutions and organizations, spent shorter time on patent examination than individuals. Patent applications from companies required longer examination cycles. [Limitations] The patent examination cycle is closely related to the examination process of the patent office and the examiners’ characteristics, which needs more fine-grained studies. [Conclusions] Combining different technical fields and the characteristics of the applicants will establish a diversified examination mode. Strengthening the use of automated technology and establishing better classification standards will improve the patent examination efficiency.
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