Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Analyzing the Gender Gap in Patents : A Lesson from Startups


Affiliations
1 Goa Business School, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, Goa - 403 206, India
2 Goa Business School, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, Goa - 403 206, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


A study by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) indicated a disparity in the ratio of men to women IP rights holders. The Indian Patents Act, 1970, vide its amendment in September 2019, allowed women applicants to seek expedited examination of their patent applications, leading to shorter timelines in obtaining a patent. This study attempted to forecast the impact of the new legislation on women applicants by drawing an equivalence of the effects of similar legislation on startups. We tried to study whether the nature or gender of an applicant influenced the time taken for the grant of a patent; if gender mediated between the nature of the applicant and the time taken for the grant of a patent. Lastly, the study evaluated the amendment's impact on the time taken to grant a patent for women inventors. Research showed that since an equivalence could be drawn between women and startups as applicants, the growth in the number of female applicants and the number of patents awarded to female applicants will be similar to the effect of the 2016 amendment to the Patents Act on startups.

Keywords

Law, Legal Economic, Intellectual Property Law, Patent Law, Innovation, Research.

JEL Classification Codes : K00, O3, O34, O31

Paper Submission Date : June 30, 2021 ; Paper sent back for Revision : March 23, 2022 ; Paper Acceptance Date : May 20, 2022 ; Paper Published Online : September 15, 2022

User
Subscription Login to verify subscription
Notifications
Font Size

  • Adhana, D. (2016). Start-up India, Stand-up India: India turning into a startup hub by prospering entrepreneurial culture. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3702510

  • Baptist, J. (2017). Introduction to "Women in Academia." Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 29(1–2), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952833.2017.1272337

  • Ding, W. W., Murray, F. E., & Stuart, T. E. (2006). Gender differences in patenting in the academic life sciences. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1260388

  • Drivas, K., Economidou, C., Karamanis, D., & Zank, A. (2016). Academic patents and technology transfer. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 40, 45–63. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jengtecman.2016.04.001

  • Fox, M. F. (2005). Gender, family characteristics, and publication productivity among scientists. Social Studies of Science, 35(1), 131–150. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306312705046630

  • Hoisl, K., & Mariani, M. (2017). It's a man's job: Income and the gender gap in industrial research. Management Science, 63(3), 766 –790. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2015.2357

  • Hunt, J., Garant, J.-P., Herman, H., & Munroe, D. J. (2013). Why are women underrepresented amongst patentees? Research Policy, 42(4), 831–843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2012.11.004

  • Inamdar, S. C., & Nagendra, A. (2017). A study on the relationship between presence of women in boards and corporate reputation. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 10(12), 20–31. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2017/v10i12/119978

  • Jung, T., & Ejermo, O. (2014). Demographic patterns and trends in patenting: Gender, age, and education of inventors. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 86, 110–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2013.08.023

  • Kumar, N., Kumar, P., & Nigam, D. (2021). A study of interaction effect of financial performance on the relationship of board gender diversity and corporate social responsibility. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 14(8), 8–24. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2021/v14i8/165676

  • Mathivannan, S., & Selvakumar, M. (2009). The management of small-scale industries by women entrepreneurs - A study with reference to Virudhunagar District. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 2(2), 3–19. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2009/v2i2/60883

  • Palaniappan, A., & Aniyan, A. C. (2010). Empowering women through education, health and employment. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 3(11), 3–13. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2010/v3i11/61172

  • Singh, P. (2013). Socialization and nurturing entrepreneurship among Indian women. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 6(10), 21–27. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2013/v6i10/60036

  • Sugimoto, C. R., Ni, C., West, J. D., & Larivière, V. (2015). The academic advantage: Gender disparities in patenting. PLOS ONE, 10(5), e0128000. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128000

  • Suriyamurthi, S., Sheela, S. C., & Uma Rani, T. S. (2009). Globalization - Challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 2(3), 34–39. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2009/v2i3/60929


Abstract Views: 191

PDF Views: 0




  • Analyzing the Gender Gap in Patents : A Lesson from Startups

Abstract Views: 191  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Shalini Sitaraman
Goa Business School, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, Goa - 403 206, India
Nilesh Borde
Goa Business School, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, Goa - 403 206, India
Purva Hegde Desai
Goa Business School, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, Goa - 403 206, India

Abstract


A study by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) indicated a disparity in the ratio of men to women IP rights holders. The Indian Patents Act, 1970, vide its amendment in September 2019, allowed women applicants to seek expedited examination of their patent applications, leading to shorter timelines in obtaining a patent. This study attempted to forecast the impact of the new legislation on women applicants by drawing an equivalence of the effects of similar legislation on startups. We tried to study whether the nature or gender of an applicant influenced the time taken for the grant of a patent; if gender mediated between the nature of the applicant and the time taken for the grant of a patent. Lastly, the study evaluated the amendment's impact on the time taken to grant a patent for women inventors. Research showed that since an equivalence could be drawn between women and startups as applicants, the growth in the number of female applicants and the number of patents awarded to female applicants will be similar to the effect of the 2016 amendment to the Patents Act on startups.

Keywords


Law, Legal Economic, Intellectual Property Law, Patent Law, Innovation, Research.

JEL Classification Codes : K00, O3, O34, O31

Paper Submission Date : June 30, 2021 ; Paper sent back for Revision : March 23, 2022 ; Paper Acceptance Date : May 20, 2022 ; Paper Published Online : September 15, 2022


References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom%2F2022%2Fv15i9%2F172192