Discussing "A Network Theory of Patentability" with Prof. Laura Pedraza-Fariña (Northwestern)

In this episode of the vlog & podcast series of ETH's Center for Law & Economics, Prof. Laura Pedraza-Fariña (Northwestern) discusses her paper "A Network Theory of Patentability" with PhD student Margaritha Windisch (ETH Zurich).   Patent law is built upon a fundamental premise: only significant inventions receive patent protection while minor improvements remain in the public domain. Despite its importance, the doctrine that performs this gate keeping role — non-obviousness — has long remained indeterminate and vague. In their article, Laura Pedraza-Fariña and her co-author Prof. Ryan Whalen (University of Hongkong) draw on network theory, a novel approach answering the questions what non-obvious inventions are and how to determine non-obviousness in specific cases.    Paper References:   Laura Pedraza-Fariña - Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Ryan Whalen - University of Hong Kong, Faculty of Law   A Network Theory of Patentability University of Chicago Law Review, Volume 87, No. 1, (2020) https://lawreview.uchicago.edu/publication/network-theory-patentability  Audio Credits:   Trailer music: AllttA by AllttA    https://youtu.be/ZawLOcbQZ2w