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Abstract:

The chapters in this PhD dissertation focus on one industry in particular, the telecom industry. Since this industry opened up to competition in 1988, it has transformed into a high-patenting industry, characterized by an above-average number of patenting practices. Therefore, this industry is the ideal setting for studying trends in strategic patenting behaviour. In these dissertation papers, we highlight two main aspects related to this industry: SEPs and strategies implemented by firms to obtain a competitive advantage. In the last two chapters, we also focus on policies that were implemented by the EPO to address reduced market transparency as a result of those strategic patenting practices.