‘Patent journalism’: An emergence of a new form of science communication

The rise of information-based firms has sparked an ‘explosion’ in the number of issued patents over the recent decades. Patent-related media coverage not only communicate scientific and technology advances to all stakeholders, but also has an affect on the perception of future cash flows – and therefore market value – and reinforces the use of patents as instruments to create and appropriate value. Here, a new social phenomenon of a concomitant exponential rise in the number of patent-related media coverage over the recent decades is described. This ‘patent journalism’ is portrayed from the perspective of science communication. This note aims to raise awareness of the impact of patents as conduits of science and technology communication.