The International Patent Practice Narrative: Epistemic Capture and the International Patent Agent Profession

The International Patent Practice Narrative examines how professional agents have shaped the global patent system. Drawing on various capture theories, Wissam Aoun traces how patent agents have created an exclusive discourse that excludes technical experts and innovators from meaningful participation in key processes.

By considering historical and doctrinal analysis with qualitative empirical work, the book combines theory and practice to provide an institutional understanding of patent agency. Comparing research from across Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the book reveals how professional enclosures have reshaped patent drafting standards, examination practices, and quality debates. Moving beyond diagnostic approaches, Aoun challenges current institutional arrangements and proposes reforms to restore broader participation in patent governance and ensure these systems better serve innovation ecosystems.

Combining critique with constructive suggestions for change, this book is an essential resource for intellectual property scholars and law professors. It is also an insightful read for patent practitioners and attorneys given its critical reflection on the profession, as well as a valuable toolkit for policymakers focusing on patent reform.