@techreport{NBERw14926,
 title = "Does it Matter Who Has the Right to Patent: First-to-invent or First-to-file? Lessons From Canada",
 author = "Shih-tse Lo and Dhanoos Sutthiphisal",
 institution = "National Bureau of Economic Research",
 type = "Working Paper",
 series = "Working Paper Series",
 number = "14926",
 year = "2009",
 month = "April",
 URL = "http://www.nber.org/papers/w14926",
 abstract = {A switch to a first-to-file patent regime from its first-to-invent system has become imminent for the U.S. To learn about probable effects of such a policy change, we examine a similar switch that occurred in Canada in 1989. We find that the switch failed to stimulate Canadian R&D efforts. Nor did it have any effects on overall patenting. However, the reforms had a small adverse effect on domestic-oriented industries and skewed the ownership structure of patented inventions towards large corporations, away from independent inventors and small businesses. These findings challenge the merits of adopting a first-to-file patent regime.},
}