Sources and characteristics of software patents in the European Union: Some empirical considerations

► New database containing information on software patents accorded by the European Patent Office. ► Software patents are mainly applied by American and Japanese firms. ► Software patents are characterised by an higher average length of the granting procedure. ► Software firms do not apply for software patents. ► Software patents are not deemed as useful appropriability instruments by software firms while a threat effect by hardware firms is growing in importance.