The Value of Hidden Citations in Patent Evaluation

Why the Blind Spot and How to Uncover It

Most patent professionals acknowledge that a raw count of the number of forward citations to a patent, can be an indicator of a patent’s value.  However, a mere count is insufficient because decoding the citations to support meaningful decisions is still a challenge. 

This article, the first in a series, reveals new data that may render traditional citation analysis inadequate, and discusses the who, what, and when of each citation as an important consideration when attempting to derive value from careful examination of the complete forward citation record.

Highlights of this white paper include:

• Overview of what a citation is
• Why patents are cited
• Citation completeness