The 2011 America Invents Act: Does it Undermine Innovation?

With the 2011 America Invents Act, the United States discarded its century‐old first‐to‐invent patent‐awarding system in favor of a first‐to‐file rule. Critics have argued that the first‐to‐file rule rewards speed in patent applications rather than creativity, thereby undermining innovation. We evaluate this concern within a dynamic model of a patent race, and find first‐to‐invent (weakly) more conducive to innovation than first‐to‐file. Defending prior users’ rights can promote both pro‐ and anti‐R&D effect of a switch to first‐to‐file.