Money spent on pat lit is well spent, says PWC

The 2008 PriceWaterhouseCoopers patent litigation study, based on US data, concludes that:

"Patent litigation appears to continue to be an effective protection and monetization path for patent holders. Although legislation is to be put in place that may influence patenting activities and the litigation process, for now, the courts appear to be increasingly protecting those patent holders proving the validity, enforceability, and infringement of their patents.

With trial success rates at their highest level in history, patent holders appear to be winning with considerable awards of damages".

To study the trends related to patent decisions, PWC identified final decisions in both summary and full trials, as recorded in two WestLaw databases, Federal Intellectual Property - Cases (FIP-CS) and Combined Jury Verdicts and Settlements (JV-ALL). The study focuses on 666 summary judgments, 616 trial, and 481 unique CAFC patent decisions issued since 1995.

You can download the study, which is 23 pages long, from the PWC website here.