Business Method Patents and Sustained Competitive Advantage

Abstract

In this study, the performance of 40 U.S. firms that own business method patents was compared with the performance of their matched sample nonpatenting competitors in order to explore patent-protected IS-enabled sustained competitive advantage. The ownership of these patents was not found to be a significant contributor to sustained competitive advantage when measured by financial and market share performance. However, the results can be used to guide much needed future research on this topic.

• Business method patent
• intellectual property
• IS strategy
• IS value
• strategic IS management
• sustained competitive advantage