Working Paper: NBER ID: w25038
Authors: Emin M. Dinlersoz; Nathan Goldschlag; Amanda Myers; Nikolas Zolas
Abstract: This paper reports on the construction of a new dataset that combines data on trademark applications and registrations from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with data on firms from the U.S. Census Bureau. The resulting dataset allows tracking of various activity related to trademark use and protection over the life-cycle of firms, such as the first application for a trademark registration, the first use of a trademark, and the renewal, assignment, and cancellation of trademark registrations. Facts about firm-level trademark activity are documented, including the incidence and timing of trademark registration filings over the firm life-cycle and the connection between firm characteristics and trademark applications. We also explore the relation of trademark application filing to firm employment and revenue growth, and to firm innovative activity as measured by R&D and patents.
Keywords: trademark registration; firm dynamics; innovation; R&D; patents
JEL Codes: D22; L10; L21; L25; M30; O34
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| successful firms (L25) | trademark filing (O34) |
| larger customer bases (F61) | trademark filing (O34) |
| R&D activity (O32) | trademark filing (O34) |
| patenting activity (O34) | trademark filing (O34) |
| trademark filing (O34) | employment growth (O49) |
| trademark filing (O34) | revenue growth (O49) |
| trademark filing (O34) | R&D expenditures (O32) |
| trademark filing (O34) | patenting activity (O34) |