研究期間：10208~10307;In recent years, non-practicing entities (NPEs) are of growing concern in patent studies. Currently, the question of whether NPEs are patent trolls or market makers of technological trade remains debatable. This project is the follow-up studies of Chen, Chung, and Yang (2012) which studies the role of NPEs as the sellers on patent transfer. Given that NPEs generally play a more important role as the buyer than as the seller in the patent market, this project analyzes the issue from a different angle by considering NPEs as the buyers. Besides, a comparative analysis with Chen, Chung, and Yang (2012) will then be performed. The empirical results of this project should shed light on the controversy over NPEs in the patent market.
